Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Arrested For Smuggling Gold Worth Rs 12.5 Crore
Bengaluru, 5th March 2025: Kannada actress Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport for attempting to smuggle 14.8 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.5 crore from Dubai.
Rao, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao, had been under DRI surveillance due to her frequent trips to Dubai, reportedly making four visits in just 15 days.
The DRI intercepted Rao on Monday night after receiving a tip-off. Officials revealed that she concealed gold bars within her clothing and wore a portion of the gold on her person.
She allegedly attempted to use her connections to bypass customs checks and even sought local police assistance for an escort from the airport.
A raid on her residence in Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road uncovered additional gold worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash, bringing the total seizure to ₹17.29 crore.
The DRI is investigating whether Rao acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India.
Authorities suspect she leveraged protocol privileges typically reserved for bureaucrats to evade scrutiny during previous trips.
Her father, DGP Ramachandra Rao, distanced himself from the case, stating, “This has come as a huge shock and disappointment. The law will take its course.”
Ranya Rao has been remanded to 14 days in judicial custody while investigations continue into her alleged involvement in organized gold smuggling networks.
