Ranya Rao
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Kannada film actor Ranya Rao, 33, was allegedly caught red-handed while trying to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold, worth over ₹ 12 crore from Dubai, at Kempegowda International Airport on Sunday evening.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which led the operation and arrested her, is yet to make a statement on the case.
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service officer from Karnataka, K. Ramachandra Rao. Mr. Rao is serving as Director-General of Police, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.
She has acted in three films as the lead, including the 2014 film Manikya, where she debuted and was paired with Sudeep. She also acted in the 2016 Tamil film Wagah and the 2017 Kannada film Pataki.
Ranya Rao reportedly tried to pass through the security without getting checked. A constable from the International Airport Police Station, who was with her, allegedly tried to escort her out.
However, DRI sleuths, who had a tip-off, stopped her and reportedly caught her red-handed trying to smuggle gold she had allegedly concealed on her body, in her jacket and other clothes. The DRI sleuths recovered a total of 14.8 kg of gold in bars, sources said.
Ranya Rao was arrested on Sunday evening and DRI officials produced her before the Special Court for Economic Offences on Monday evening. The sources said that they did not seek her custody and the judge remanded her in police custody for 14 days till March 18.
Frequent Dubai trips
Ranya Rao’s frequent trips to Dubai with her husband, despite having no business or family there, and bypassing security checks at KIA, raised red flags in the security establishment at the airport, the sources said. Dubai has been a hotspot for gold smuggling.
Like on Sunday, she used to get an escort from the International Airport Police Station and walk out of the airport without being frisked often, the sources said.
A senior city police official said that International Airport Police often provided escort and offered logistical help when family members of senior police officials landed at KIA.
DRI officials also detained the constable who was with her on Sunday, recorded his statement and let him go, the official said.
After being detained on Sunday at KIA, Ranya Rao reportedly claimed she was blackmailed and forced to become a mule for the gold consignment. This is also being verified and part of the investigation now, according to sources.
Probe likely to expand
The probe will also look into the source of the gold in Dubai, the source of the money used to buy it and the mode of payment, the sources said.
Since smuggled gold was usually paid for in cash, there were suspicions of hawala transactions and the Directorate of Enforcement may also enter the probe, the sources said.
DRI officials conducted a search and seizure operation at Ranya Rao’s residence in Bengaluru on Monday.
Published – March 04, 2025 10:38 pm IST