Actor Ranya Rao Arrested in Gold Smuggling Case After 27 Dubai Trips in a Year

Bengaluru: Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested on Monday night after authorities at Kempegowda International Airport seized 14.2 kg of gold bars worth ₹14.56 crore from her possession. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which had been monitoring her movements due to frequent Dubai trips, confirmed this as one of the largest gold seizures at the airport in recent times.

The 33-year-old actor, who is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was intercepted upon her return from Dubai. Officials revealed that she had visited the Gulf nation 27 times within a year, raising suspicions of her involvement in an organized smuggling operation.

Court Proceedings and Bail Plea

During the court hearing on her bail petition, the Customs department requested a four-day custody to continue the investigation. However, her lawyer objected, pointing out that the DRI had already sent her to judicial custody from March 4 to March 18, stating that there were no further inquiries. The court has reserved its decision on the custody request.

Hefty Commissions for Gold Smuggling

Investigations have uncovered that Ranya Rao was part of a gold smuggling syndicate, earning commissions between ₹4 lakh to ₹5 lakh per kilogram for transporting gold from Dubai to Bengaluru, according to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).

Following the airport seizure, the DRI raided her residence on Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. Officials seized gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash, further strengthening suspicions of her deep involvement in the smuggling ring.

Stepfather’s Reaction: “Shocked and Devastated”

Distancing himself from the case, IPS officer Ramachandra Rao stated that he was unaware of her business activities and that the law should take its course.

"Like any other father, I was shocked and devastated when I learned about this through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. I don't want to say anything more," he said.

The senior officer, who currently serves as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, also clarified that Ranya Rao had been living separately with her husband, indicating possible family issues.

Suspicious Travel Patterns and Smuggling Tactics

Authorities grew suspicious after discovering that Ranya Rao had made four trips to Dubai in just 15 days before her arrest. Upon landing in Bengaluru, she allegedly smuggled gold by wearing a significant portion of it as jewelry while concealing gold bars in her clothing.

Investigators also suspect that she used her connections to bypass airport security, allowing her to smuggle large quantities of gold undetected in previous instances.

Further Investigation Underway

Currently, officials are investigating whether Ranya Rao was operating alone or was part of a larger international smuggling network. She was presented before a special court for financial offenses, which remanded her to judicial custody until March 18.

The case has sent shockwaves across the Kannada film industry, where Ranya Rao gained fame after starring opposite superstar Sudeep in the 2014 film ‘Maanikya’.

Authorities continue their probe to uncover the full extent of her involvement in the smuggling operation.