Officials reported seizing 14.8 kg of gold from Ranya Rao, making it one of the largest gold busts at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Airport in recent years.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation’s DGP Ramachandra Rao, was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on the night of March 3 after arriving from Dubai on an Emirates flight.
Acting on a tip-off about her suspected role in gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) stationed a team at the airport ahead of her arrival. She was taken into custody immediately after landing.
Ranya Rao, known for her roles in films like Maanikya and Pataki, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Bengaluru.
She was presented before a special court for financial offenses the next day, which remanded her to judicial custody until March 18, 2025. Before being taken into custody, she underwent a medical check-up at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Ramachandra Rao distanced himself from the case, stating, “The law will take its course. There is no black mark on my career.” He maintained that he had no prior knowledge of Ranya’s alleged involvement in smuggling and only learned about her arrest through media reports.
5 Key Revelations by Police on Kannada Actress Ranya Rao’s Arrest
- Massive Gold Seizure
Officials confirmed that 14.8 kg of gold was confiscated from Ranya Rao, marking one of the largest gold busts at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport in recent years. The Ministry of Finance stated that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a passenger attempting to smuggle foreign-origin gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore. The total seizure, including assets worth ₹4.73 crore, amounted to ₹17.29 crore, dealing a major blow to organized gold smuggling networks. - Alleged Smuggling Operation
During questioning, Ranya Rao claimed her Dubai trip was for business purposes. However, DRI officials allege she was carrying a significant amount of gold intended for illegal smuggling into India. She remains in judicial custody as the investigation continues. - Suspicious Travel Patterns
Rao, who recently married architect Jatin Hukkeri in a lavish ceremony at Taj West End, caught the authorities’ attention after making four trips to Dubai within 15 days. Officials had been monitoring her movements due to frequent international travel alongside her husband, despite no apparent professional or family ties overseas. “She has visited Dubai 30 times in the past year, which we believe was part of smuggling operations. She often bypassed strict security checks and even received police escorts,” said an investigator on condition of anonymity. - Father’s Alleged Influence
Revenue intelligence officers noticed a recurring pattern in her travel and suspected a link to gold smuggling activities. According to a Hindustan Times report, investigators believe Rao may have leveraged her father’s influence to evade customs checks at the airport. - Financial Deal and Smuggling Network
During interrogation, Rao claimed she was coerced into smuggling gold. She was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, as authorities probe potential connections to a larger smuggling ring. Reports from India Today suggest she was paid ₹1 lakh per kilogram, allegedly earning around ₹12-13 lakh per trip by smuggling several kilograms of gold on each journey.
