Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested on Wednesday at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.56 crore into India.
Ranya, who is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, had reportedly visited Dubai multiple times over the past year as part of an alleged gold smuggling operation.
DRI Search Uncovers More Assets
Following her arrest, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) raided her residence on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she lives with her husband. The search led to the seizure of:
- Gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore
- Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore
With these additional assets, the total seizure in the case stood at ₹17.29 crore, including ₹4.73 crore in assets.
Frequent Dubai Trips and Smuggling Modus Operandi
According to sources cited by India Today, Ranya Rao visited Dubai 30 times in a year, allegedly smuggling gold into India. Reports suggest she was paid ₹1 lakh per kg of gold transported, earning nearly ₹13 lakh per trip.
Investigators found that she used modified jackets and waist belts to smuggle the gold discreetly. Her frequent international travel had put her under DRI surveillance, leading to her eventual arrest.
Alleged Security Breach at Airport
Reports indicate that a local police constable attempted to help Ranya bypass security checks. When intercepted by DRI officers, the constable reportedly claimed that she was the daughter of a senior police officer, attempting to prevent her frisking. However, DRI officials, acting on prior intelligence, went ahead with the search and arrested her.
Father Reacts: ‘Shocked and Devastated’
Senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, her stepfather, reacted to the arrest, expressing disbelief.
“I was also shocked and devastated when I learned about this through the media. I was unaware of any of these activities. She does not live with us but separately with her husband. There may be some family issues involved. However, the law will take its course. My career has no black mark, and I don’t want to comment further,” he told ANI.
Authorities are now conducting a deeper investigation into the smuggling network and any possible accomplices in the operation.
