Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru’s airport with 14.8 kg of gold.
Authorities are probing Ranya Rao’s possible involvement in a smuggling network.
On the night of March 3, Kannada actress Ranya Rao was taken into custody at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport when it was found that she had 14.8 kilograms of gold. According to officials cited in a report by the news agency PTI, the arrest was made by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). After being brought before a court for economic violations, Ranya Rao was placed under judicial prison for 14 days.
Police are looking into whether she was part of a bigger smuggling network between Dubai and India or if she was acting alone. The actress reportedly caught the attention of the authorities after making four trips to Dubai in a 15-day period. When she returned on Monday night, the frequency sparked curiosity and led to a focused operation.
Who Is Ranya Rao?
Known for co-starring with Kannada superstar Sudeep in the 2014 film Maanikya, Ranya Rao has also starred in a few other South Indian films.
The 33-year-old actor is the stepdaughter of K. Ramachandra Rao, a top Karnataka IPS official. At the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, he holds the position of Director-General of Police (DGP).
Ranya Rao’s Educational Qualification
Ranya Rao graduated from Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore with an engineering degree. Her passion for performing led her to later enrol at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Performing Institute.
Ranya Rao’s Career
Originally from Karnataka, Ranya Rao pursued a career in Tamil and Telugu cinema. Due to her attractive appearance and growing fan base, she has established herself in the South Indian film industry. She made her debut in the Kannada film Maanikya (2014). Later, she branched out into Tamil cinema with the 2016 and 2017 films Wagah and Pataki, respectively.
Why Is Ranya Rao Making Headings?
Ranya Rao had landed at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai on an Emirates flight, according to the officials cited in the PTI report. Because she travelled abroad frequently, she had to be monitored.
After discovering that she had visited Dubai four times in 15 days, police were suspicious and launched a targeted investigation when she returned.
According to preliminary investigations, Ranya Rao might have tried to get around customs inspections by using her contacts.
According to the PTI report, she allegedly contacted local police officers to arrange for an escort home after landing and claimed to be the daughter of the director general of police in Karnataka. As per investigators, she had reportedly smuggled the gold by hiding gold bars in her clothing and wearing a large amount of it.
The question now being asked by officials is if any law enforcement officials, including her IPS relative, knew about her activities or were duped into helping her. Ranya Rao was taken to be questioned at the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru’s HBR Layout following her detention.
Ranya Rao defended herself by saying she had a valid business reason for visiting Dubai. This explanation did not support the information found throughout the inquiry.
