Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested after she was caught with 14 kg of gold bars worth Rs 14.56 crore at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said this is one of the biggest gold seizures at the airport in recent times.
Ms. Rao, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested on Monday night. The DRI had been monitoring her because she had traveled to Dubai 27 times in a year.
During her bail hearing, customs officials requested four-day custody of the 33-year-old actor. However, her lawyer objected, saying that she had already been sent to judicial custody from March 4 to March 18, and the DRI had no further questions. The court will decide on the custody request tomorrow.
Smuggling gold for large commissions
Investigations revealed that Ms. Rao was involved in a gold smuggling network and was paid a high commission for transporting gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. Reports suggest she earned Rs 4-5 lakh for smuggling each kilogram of gold.
After her arrest, officials searched her home in Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. They found gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
Step-father shocked by arrest
Ms. Rao’s stepfather, senior police officer Ramachandra Rao, distanced himself from the case. He said he was unaware of her or her husband’s business activities. "I was shocked and devastated when I heard about this in the media. I had no knowledge of any such activities," he said. He also clarified that she does not live with him but separately with her husband.
Mr. Rao is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
4 Dubai trips in 15 days raised alarm
Ms. Rao arrived in Bengaluru from Dubai on Monday via an Emirates flight. Authorities became suspicious after noticing that she had made four Dubai trips in just 15 days. When they checked her, they found she was wearing some gold and had hidden gold bars in her clothes.
Investigators are now looking into whether she was working alone or was part of a bigger smuggling network. Ms. Rao has acted in several South Indian films and appeared opposite Kannada superstar Sudeep in the 2014 movie Maanikya.
Also Read: Kannada actor Rao held for smuggling gold worth 12Cr
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