Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case, had traveled to Dubai 27 times within a year, raising suspicions that led to her arrest. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended the 33-year-old actor at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after she was caught smuggling 14.2 kg of gold bars worth Rs 14.56 crore. This is considered one of the largest gold seizures at the Bengaluru airport in recent times.
Frequent Dubai Visits Under Scrutiny
Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was taken into custody on Monday night. Officials from the DRI had been closely monitoring her movements due to her frequent trips to Dubai.
During the bail petition hearing, the Customs Department sought a four-day custody extension. However, her lawyer argued that she had already been sent to judicial custody from March 4 to March 18 as the DRI had no further questions for her. The court has reserved its decision on her custody until tomorrow.
Hefty Commission for Gold Smuggling
Investigations have revealed that Ranya Rao was actively involved in a gold smuggling network. Reports suggest that she received commissions of around Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per kilogram for smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru.
Following her arrest at the airport, a search operation at her residence on Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband, led to the seizure of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
Stepfather Distances Himself from Case
Senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao expressed shock over his stepdaughter’s arrest. Distancing himself from her alleged activities, he stated, “Like any other father, I was shocked and devastated when I learned about it through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. I don’t want to say anything more.”
He also clarified that Ranya Rao was not living with him, adding, “She is living separately with her husband. There must be some problem between them… (maybe) due to some family issues.”
Suspicious Travel Patterns and Smuggling Tactics
Authorities became suspicious when they noticed that Ranya Rao had traveled to Dubai four times in just 15 days. Upon her return on an Emirates flight on Monday, investigators conducted a targeted operation and caught her smuggling gold. She had allegedly concealed gold bars in her clothing and was also wearing a significant portion of the smuggled gold.
Investigators are now probing whether Ranya Rao was working alone or if she was part of a larger gold smuggling syndicate operating between Dubai and India. Reports suggest that she may have used her connections to bypass security checks at the airport.
Legal Proceedings and Industry Reactions
Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for financial offenses, which remanded her to judicial custody until March 18. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the case to determine the full extent of the smuggling operation.
The actor, who has appeared in several South Indian films, gained recognition for her role opposite Kannada superstar Sudeep in the 2014 film Maanikya. Her arrest has sent shockwaves through the Kannada film industry and law enforcement circles alike.
Sources By Agencies
