March 5th 2025.
On a Wednesday in Bengaluru, there was a surprise raid by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at the residence of Ranya Rao, a well-known Kannada actress who is currently in jail. The raid resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of cash and gold, estimated to be worth crores of rupees. This came after Rao's arrest at the Bengaluru International Airport, where she was caught trying to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold.
Reports state that the authorities found Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold and Rs 2.67 crore in cash at her luxurious flat on Lavelle Road, where she was reportedly paying a rent of Rs 4.5 lakh. Rao, who is 32 years old, is the daughter of Ramachandra Rao, who holds the position of Director General of Police. However, he has made it clear that he has not been in touch with his daughter since her marriage four months ago.
According to the police, the actress was taken into custody on Monday night at the airport after arriving on an Emirates flight from Dubai. The DRI had received information that Rao had boarded the Emirates flight from Dubai, and so a team of four officers was sent to the Bengaluru airport to await her arrival. It is believed that the DRI had been keeping an eye on her frequent trips to Dubai, which reportedly included four visits in just 15 days.
Investigators have revealed that Rao smuggled gold bars by hiding them in her belt and clothing, using her father's name to avoid suspicion. Upon landing at the airport, she would call police personnel for a pick-up, who would then escort her home. The DRI is now looking into whether any police personnel or an IPS officer who is related to her had a role in the gold smuggling operation, or if she acted alone. They are also investigating whether she had smuggled gold on previous occasions.
Following her arrest, Rao was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru for questioning and was later produced in court, where she was remanded to judicial custody. Rao, who has acted opposite Kannada superstar Sudeep in the film Maanikya, has also worked in other South Indian films. The DRI continues to investigate the case and gather more information about the actress's involvement in the smuggling operation.
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