New Delhi: Kannada actress Ranya Rao was apprehended by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday evening at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on charges of gold smuggling. During the inquiry, Rao alleged that she had been coerced into the act through blackmail.
Additionally, police detained Constable Basavaraju and obtained a statement regarding his role in assisting Rao at the airport. Following her arrest on March 4, officials conducted a search of her residence at Nandwani Mansion on Lavelle Road. This operation resulted in the confiscation of Rs 2.67 crore in cash and gold valued at Rs 2.06 crore. Authorities removed three large boxes from her home during the raid, bringing the total value of the seizure to Rs 17.29 crore.
Details of Ranya Rao’s Arrest
Upon her arrival at KIA from Dubai on an Emirates flight, the actress attempted to evade security checks with the assistance of Constable Basavaraju, who was with her. However, the DRI, having prior knowledge of her activities, apprehended her in the act with the gold shipment. During a search, officials discovered 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, concealed within her jacket. Following her arrest, Ranya Rao was transported to the DRI office in Nagavara for further questioning.
Ranya Rao has appeared in numerous Kannada and Tamil films and is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Police for the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. Authorities have raised suspicions regarding the actress’s frequent trips to Dubai with her husband, Jatin, as there appear to be no business or familial connections to the region. Investigations have revealed that she often utilized police escorts to bypass security checks at the airport.
Rao’s recent international travels are now being scrutinized, given that she has not disclosed any legitimate business activities in Dubai or other nations. It is anticipated that her husband will also be questioned by investigative agencies.
Rao has been placed in judicial custody for a period of 14 days under the Customs Act of 1962. Reports indicate that she is currently held in a quarantine cell at Parappana Agrahara as part of the ongoing investigation.
