Kannada actress Ranya Rao arrested at Bengaluru airport for smuggling 14.2 kg gold worth Rs.12.56 crore

Ranya Rao caught smuggling gold from Dubai

Kannada film actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold, valued at over Rs.12.56 crore, from Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) confirmed her arrest on Tuesday.

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) at the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.

DRI surveillance and arrest

Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials intercepted Rao upon her arrival on an Emirates flight from Dubai. Authorities had placed her under surveillance after noticing four international trips to Dubai within 15 days, raising suspicions of illegal activity.

She was arrested on Monday night and produced before an economic offences court, which remanded her to 14 days of judicial custody.

How the gold was smuggled

Investigators revealed that Rao concealed gold bars in her clothing and wore a significant portion as jewelry. A substantial quantity of smuggled gold was hidden inside her jacket.

Officials suspect she may have attempted to use her connections to evade customs checks and contacted local police personnel for an airport escort before her arrest.

Possible links to a smuggling syndicate

Authorities are now investigating whether:

• Ranya Rao acted alone or was part of a larger gold smuggling network operating between Dubai and India.
• Any law enforcement officers, including her IPS stepfather, were aware of her activities or were misled into assisting her.

Following her arrest, she was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru’s HBR Layout for questioning.

DRI raids actress’s residence, seizes gold and cash

DRI officials searched Rao’s residence on Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. The raid led to the seizure of Rs.2.06 crore worth of gold jewelry and Rs.2.67 crore in cash.

She was booked under the Customs Act, 1962, and remains in judicial custody.

One of Bengaluru airport’s biggest gold seizures

According to DRI, this 14.2 kg gold seizure is among the largest recorded at Bengaluru International Airport in recent years.

Ranya Rao’s film career

Ranya Rao is best known for starring alongside Kannada superstar Sudeep in Maanikya (2014). She has also appeared in several South Indian films.

Authorities continue their investigation to uncover further details of the smuggling network.

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