The arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao in a gold smuggling case has sent shockwaves through Karnataka, as authorities investigate her alleged role in a larger illicit network. Rao was caught at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) with 14kg of gold bars concealed in a belt, intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) upon her return from Dubai. The 32-year-old actress has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
DGP K Ramachandra Rao, her father and a senior IPS officer, has distanced himself from her activities. “She married four months ago and has not visited us since. We are unaware of her or her husband’s business. This is a complete shock. The law will take its course,” he stated.
Authorities had been monitoring Ranya due to her frequent short trips to the Gulf, suspecting past smuggling activities. Investigators are now reviewing airport surveillance footage to track previous instances. Reports suggest she exploited bureaucratic protocol privileges, using official escorts to bypass security checks and road inspections.
Adding further controversy, DGP Rao himself faced scrutiny in 2014 when his unit was accused of misappropriating ₹2 crore seized from a private bus, leading to the arrest of his gunman for dacoity.
With multiple agencies now probing Ranya’s smuggling links, the case has exposed loopholes in security protocols at Bengaluru airport.
Events that led to actress Ranya Rao’s arrest at airport
Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Arrested in Gold Smuggling Case
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