Ranya Rao's arrest uncovers international smuggling operations

The arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and beyond, unveiling a complex gold smuggling operation with international ties.

- JITENDER SHARMA NEW DELHI

Caught on March 3, 2025, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Rao was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) with 14.2 kilograms of gold strapped to her body, valued at approximately Rs 12.56 crores. What began as a routine customs check has escalated into a multi-agency investigation involving the DRI, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), raising questions about a possible smuggling syndicate operating from Dubai.

THE ARREST: GOLD STRAPPED TO RAO'S BODY
Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP (Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao, arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight (EK 566) at 6:30 pm on March 3. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials detained her as she attempted to exit through the green channel, claiming she had nothing to declare. A metal detector flagged anomalies, leading to a physical search that revealed 14 gold bars—24-karat purity, weighing 14,213.050 grams—concealed on her person. According to the DRI's arrest memo, Rao had ingeniously strapped the gold to her waist, thighs, and calf muscles using crepe bandages and tissues, with additional pieces hidden in her shoes and front pockets. The duty evasion linked to this haul is estimated at Rs 4.83 crores.

RAO'S STATEMENT TO DRI: THE AFGHAN-AMERICAN CONNECTION
During her interrogation, Rao provided a detailed statement to the DRI, shedding light on how she became embroiled in the smuggling plot. She claimed it was her first attempt at smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru, contradicting earlier indications of frequent smuggling trips. According to Rao, on March 1, she received a call from an unknown foreign number—one of several she had been receiving over the prior two weeks—instructing her to collect gold at Dubai Airport's Terminal 3, Gate A.