In a massive crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) raided the residence of Kannada actress Ranya Rao following her arrest for attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore through Kempegowda International Airport.
During the raid at Ranya Rao’s Lavelle Road home, officials recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash, bringing the total seizure to a staggering Rs 17.29 crore. According to DRI officials, this is one of the biggest gold smuggling busts at Bengaluru airport in recent years.
Frequent Dubai Visits Raised Suspicions
Ranya, 33, had been under DRI surveillance due to her frequent international travel. Authorities discovered that she had flown to Dubai four times within 15 days, raising red flags about possible smuggling activities. Based on this intelligence, the DRI launched a targeted operation and intercepted her upon her arrival from Dubai on March 3 via an Emirates flight.
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A thorough search led to the discovery of gold bars ingeniously concealed on her person, with a significant portion hidden inside her jacket. Following this, she was immediately taken into custody and questioned.
Ties to Senior IPS Officer Under Scrutiny
Investigations have revealed that Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer, who serves as a DGP-rank officer in Karnataka. Officials suspect that she may have leveraged her connections to evade customs checks.
Ranya Rao, who made her debut in the Kannada film ‘Maanikya’ (2014) starring Sudeep, had a brief stint in the South Indian film industry before becoming embroiled in this high-profile smuggling case.
Authorities are now probing whether Ranya acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India. Further legal proceedings are underway, and she remains in judicial custody.
