Prakash Jha lodges complaint against imposter promoting Satyagraha

safia@coastaldigest.com (PTI)

August 17, 2013

Patna, Aug 17: Film-maker Prakash Jha has lodged complaints with police in Kolkata and Patna against a person who, impersonating as his son, had collected money by falsely promising to have organised an event on August 14 for promotion of his upcoming film 'Satyagraha' starring Amitabh Bachchan.

The imposter had announced to organise the event in a five-star hotel at Kolkata by falsely claiming that it would be attended by Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpayee, Kareena Kapoor and Jha himself.

Sources in the Prakash Jha Production House said as per their information the imposter had also roped in sponsors for the event in Kolkata.

Jha said over phone that he did not have any son and the person was falsely claiming so to cheat people.

"I have asked my officials to lodge police complaints in Kolkata as well in Patna," the maker of the film 'Satyagrah' said.

The sources in Jha Production House said the complaints had been lodged with Bhawanipur police station in Kolkata and with Shri Krishnapuri police station in Patna.

The complaint lodged at Bhawanipur police station in Kolkata on August 14 said that a person identified as Presenjit Jha fraudlently claiming to be Prakash Jha's son had announced the event on August 14.

"But, due to timely intervention the fraud was detected and everybody warned of the cheating and the so-called event was cancelled on August 14," the sources said.

Sources in the Jha Production House in Mumbai said that the film-maker has only one daughter and no son.

They said the impostor had even claimed that Jha was planning to advance the dates of the release owing to his mothers ill health.

But, the fact is that the directors mother actually passed away two decades ago, the sources said adding the impersonator had also used letterheads in the name of Jhas TV channel "Maurya TV" to generate funds and advertisement.

A miffed Prakash Jha said "in fact the person has also hired a PR agency and has been picking up funds in my name. It is a case of harming my reputation."

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How Ranya Rao Was Caught Smuggling 14 Kg of Gold Moments Before Clearing Airport Security

Agencies

March 5,2025

Bengaluru: Actor Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer, was just moments away from clearing airport security at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) swooped in. What followed was a dramatic bust—gold bars worth ₹12 crore, allegedly being smuggled, were recovered from her and her accomplices.

The 33-year-old actress, who debuted in the 2014 Kannada film Maanikya, had landed in Bengaluru on Monday aboard an Emirates flight from Dubai. According to officials, she was accompanied by two individuals carrying the smuggled gold in briefcases. They had nearly cleared security and were about to exit when DRI officers, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted them and launched a search.

Gold Concealed on Person

A thorough examination led to the discovery of 14.2 kg of gold ingeniously hidden on her person. "The contraband, valued at ₹12.56 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962," the DRI stated.

More Gold, Cash Found at Her Home

The investigation didn’t stop at the airport. Authorities then searched Ranya Rao’s residence on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she lives with her husband. There, they uncovered additional gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore, bringing the total seizure in the case to ₹17.29 crore.

"The lady passenger has been placed under arrest under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and remanded to judicial custody. This marks a significant blow to organized gold smuggling networks," the DRI statement added.

Frequent Gulf Trips Raised Suspicion

According to reports, Ranya Rao had been making frequent, short trips to Gulf countries, which eventually put her under the DRI’s radar.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer. Her stepfather remarried after his first wife’s death, and Ranya is one of two daughters from her mother’s previous marriage.

With a 14.2 kg gold seizure, this is one of the biggest smuggling busts at Bengaluru airport in recent times, reinforcing the DRI’s crackdown on illicit gold trade.

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