Ranya Rao, a 33-year-old actress and stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service officer Ramachandra Rao, broke down in court after being remanded in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) until March 10 in connection with a gold smuggling case.
Ms. Rao was arrested on Monday night at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold bars, valued at approximately Rs 14.5 crore. The DRI sought her custodial interrogation to investigate the origins of the gold and its intended destination. The agency also raised concerns that her activities could pose a threat to national security.
A special court for economic offenses in Bengaluru granted the DRI custody of Ms. Rao until 4 p.m. on March 10, with instructions for her to cooperate with the investigating officer. The court allowed her to meet her lawyer for half an hour each day and ensured that she would be provided with basic facilities as per Supreme Court guidelines, while also directing the DRI not to intimidate her.
Upon hearing the court’s order, Ms. Rao broke down and was seen crying. The DRI had been monitoring Ms. Rao after she made her fourth trip to Dubai in just 15 days. Following her arrest, she confessed to carrying 17 gold bars and admitted to extensive international travel, including trips to Europe, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. Reports indicated that she had made 27 trips to Dubai over the past year. Ms. Rao, who debuted in the 2014 film Maanikya with Kichcha Sudeep, has offered to cooperate with the investigation.
It is believed that Ms. Rao was involved in a smuggling network and was earning large commissions—Rs 4-5 lakh per kilogram—for smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. The 14.2 kg gold seizure at the airport is among the largest in recent times, and searches at her residence led to the discovery of gold jewelry valued at Rs 2.06 crore, as well as Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
In response to claims that Ms. Rao may have exploited protocol policies to smuggle gold, Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara stated on Friday that the state government is considering changes to the policy. It was also noted that Ms. Rao’s stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, serves as the Director General of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. He has denied any involvement in the alleged smuggling operation and expressed being “devastated” by the news of his stepdaughter’s arrest.
