Acclaimed actress Ranya Rao, known for her work in Kannada and Tamil cinema, has been caught red-handed smuggling gold. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested her at Bengaluru Airport upon her return from Dubai. The DRI had prior intelligence about her activities and managed to capture her with tact after she landed on an Emirates flight.
On a Sunday evening, actress Ranya Rao landed at Bengaluru International Airport from Dubai. Over the past 15 days, she made four trips to Dubai, raising suspicion. At the airport, a police constable named Basvaraju was already waiting to assist her. With his help, the actress attempted to dodge the security check, but the vigilant DRI team had been monitoring her. They intercepted her and seized a substantial amount of gold, catching her in the act.
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14+ Kilograms of Gold Hidden in Jacket
During the inspection, officials discovered 14.2 kilograms of gold of foreign origin hidden in her jacket, estimated to have a market value of ₹12.56 crores. Post-arrest, she was taken to the DRI office located in Nagwara for further questioning.
Ranya, the Stepdaughter of IPS Ramachandra Rao
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of IPS Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, and frequently traveled to Dubai. Officials grew suspicious due to her frequent trips, especially since she has no known business or relatives in Dubai. The investigation revealed that she used police security to bypass airport checks.
Actress Claims Blackmail!
During interrogation, Ranya Rao alleged that she was blackmailed into smuggling gold. Meanwhile, Constable Basvaraju has been detained, and his statement recorded. Following her arrest, on March 4, a raid at her residence resulted in the seizure of ₹2.67 crore cash and gold worth ₹2.06 crores. This raid also led to the confiscation of three large boxes, bringing the total seizure value to ₹17.29 crores.
Read also: UP: Gold Smuggling Bust in Basti, ₹1.25 Crore Gold Seized from LTT Express
Ranya Rao Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody
Under the Customs Act of 1962, Ranya Rao has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. She is currently held in the quarantine cell at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, as the investigation continues. The actress has applied for bail, but the DRI has not issued any official statement yet.
