Ranya Rao, the daughter of Karnataka State Housing Corporation’s Director General of Police (DGP) Ramchandra Rao, has been arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for attempting to smuggle gold from Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended her with gold worth Rs 12.56 crore, uncovering an elaborate smuggling operation that had placed her under surveillance.
DGP Expresses Shock Over Daughter’s Arrest
Reacting to the news, DGP Ramchandra Rao expressed his shock and distress, stating he had no prior knowledge of his daughter’s activities.
“I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. Like any other father, I was also shocked,” the India Today quoted him as saying. He further clarified that his daughter lives separately with her husband and not with him.
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Rao hinted at potential family disputes that may have played a role in the situation, adding, “There must be some problem between them due to some family issues. Anyway, the law will do its job. There is no black mark in my career. I don’t want to say anything more.”
DRI Raids Bengaluru Home, Seizes More Gold And Cash
Following Ranya Rao’s arrest, the DRI raided her residence in Bengaluru’s posh Lavelle Road area. The officials seized additional gold and large sums of cash, further intensifying suspicions of an organized smuggling racket.
Ranya had been on the DRI’s radar due to her frequent international travel patterns. Officials revealed that she had flown to Dubai over 30 times in the past year, including four trips in the last 15 days, raising suspicions about her involvement in gold smuggling.
During a detailed security check, authorities discovered gold bars ingeniously concealed inside her jacket. Reports indicate that Ranya attempted to evade detection by leveraging her connection to her father, a senior police official. However, her movements had already drawn the attention of investigative agencies, leading to her interception and subsequent arrest.
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India has long battled the issue of gold smuggling, driven by high import duties and lucrative underground markets. Bengaluru, a major international transit hub, has witnessed multiple high-profile smuggling cases in recent years. The DRI’s latest action highlights the increasing sophistication of such illegal operations and the authorities’ stringent measures to curb them.
With the investigation ongoing, officials are expected to probe deeper into Ranya Rao’s connections, financial records, and potential involvement in a larger smuggling network.
