Kannada actor Ranya Rao has been arrested for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore. During interrogation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the 33-year-old actor revealed crucial details about how she acquired the contraband at Dubai International Airport.
Dubai Airport Exchange and Smuggling Plan
Ranya Rao disclosed that she had received an internet call with precise instructions to meet a man near the espresso machine in the dining lounge of Gate A, Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. The caller described the contact as a man in an Arab robe, known as a ‘Kandura,’ with a tall, well-built physique, an African-American accent, and a wheatish complexion.
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Upon identifying the man, they engaged in a brief exchange before he handed her two heavy packages wrapped in tarpaulin plastic, which contained the smuggled gold. Rao admitted that this was her first attempt at gold smuggling.
To execute the plan, she pre-cut pieces of tape before arriving at the airport and later strapped the gold bars to her body in an effort to avoid detection.
High-Profile Allegations and Investigations
During the probe, a constable assisting Ranya Rao made a shocking claim, alleging that Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Ramachandra Rao, the actor’s stepfather, had instructed him to facilitate her passage through airport protocols.
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Further investigations revealed that Rao had reportedly watched YouTube tutorials on smuggling techniques to evade authorities.
Multi-Agency Investigation Underway
On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a money laundering case against Ranya Rao, making it the third investigative agency involved in the case. The DRI is currently probing whether the actor was part of a larger organized smuggling network, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also launched its own inquiry.
With three top agencies—DRI, ED, and CBI—pursuing different angles of the case, authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the smuggling operation and any potential connections Rao may have had in the illicit trade.
