Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold. The authorities detained her upon arrival from Dubai and later presented her before an economic offences court, which ordered a 14-day judicial remand.
Actress With High-Profile Background Caught in Smuggling Case
Ranya Rao is the daughter of Director General of Police (Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao. Several media reports suggest that she is his stepdaughter. Born in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, Ranya pursued engineering at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru before entering the film industry.
A Career in Cinema Before Controversy
Ranya made her acting debut in 2014 with the Kannada film Maanikya, directed by and starring Sudeep. She later expanded her career into Tamil cinema with the 2016 film Wagah, opposite Vikram Prabhu. In 2017, she returned to Kannada films with Pataki, where she played the role of a journalist alongside actor Ganesh.
How the Smuggling Operation Was Uncovered
Authorities had been tracking Ranya Rao due to her frequent international travel. She had visited Dubai four times in just 15 days, raising suspicions. Upon her return on an Emirates flight, investigators conducted a targeted operation. Reports indicate that she allegedly smuggled gold by wearing a significant portion of it as jewelry while also concealing gold bars in her clothing.
Possible Links to a Larger Network
Preliminary investigations suggest that Ranya might have used her connections to evade customs checks. Officials are now examining whether she was acting alone or if she was part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India.
