Actress Arrested with Gold: Kannada actress Ranya Rao was detained at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kg of gold, one of the largest seizures at the airport.

INDIA NEWS By Aniket Chakraborty Mar 6, 2025 Arrow

Frequent Dubai Trips: Rao made four trips to Dubai in 15 days, raising suspicions and prompting a targeted investigation by authorities.

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DRI’s Involvement: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Rao after intercepting her at the airport based on a tip-off about her alleged smuggling activities.

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Gold Hidden in Clothing: Officials found gold bars concealed in her clothing, with the total seized gold and assets valued at ₹17.29 crore.

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Judicial Custody: Rao was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody after being presented before a special court for financial offenses.

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Stepfather Distances Himself: Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao, her stepfather, denied any involvement, stating he had no prior knowledge of her activities.

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Dubai Connection: Rao allegedly traveled to Dubai 30 times in a year, earning ₹12-13 lakh per trip, suspected to be part of a smuggling operation.

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Police Escort Claim: She reportedly used her father’s influence to arrange police escorts, bypassing strict airport security checks.

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Forced into Smuggling?: During interrogation, Rao claimed she was coerced into smuggling gold, though officials found her explanations inconsistent.

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Larger Network Probe: Authorities are investigating if Rao acted alone or was part of a bigger smuggling network between Dubai and India.

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