The actor reportedly made over 10 international trips to Dubai despite having no business or family ties there, which put her under Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s (DRI) scanner.
Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X)
The authorities were tracking Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for smuggling gold on Monday, for past six to seven months, sources have said.
Read More: ‘Was Blackmailed Into Smuggling Gold’: What Kannada Actor Ranya Rao Told Police After Her Arrest
Rao’s movements were tracked and were under the radar of agencies. The actor reportedly made over 10 international trips to Dubai despite having no business or family ties there, which put her under Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s (DRI) scanner, sources said.
Modus Operandi
Investigative agencies suspect that the modus operandi involved a state protocol officer, who allegedly used to bypass security checks of the luggage, sources said, adding that the authorities suspect that the officer might not be aware of actor’s dubious act.
Investigations have discovered that she often received police escorts to sneak past security checks at the airport by taking advantage of official protocol services meant for senior bureaucrats, including IPS officers. Her husband is also likely to be quizzed by agencies.
Read More: Gold Bars In Belt, Frisking Protocol Loophole: Top 5 Details In Actor Ranya Rao’s Smuggling Case
Agencies are further investigating if more people are involved in the nexus or Rao’s father, DGP Ramachandra Rao was aware of the dubious act.
Father Shocked, Says ‘Not Aware’ Of This
Ranya Rao’s father and DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, Ramachandra Rao, said that he is shocked and devastated by the incident. He further sidelined himself from the incident saying that he is not aware of any of these things and there is no black mark in his career.
“I was also shocked and devastated when such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father I was also shocked. She is not living with us, she is living separately with her husband, there must be some problem between them due to some family issues. Anyway, the law will do its job, there is no black mark in my career. I don’t want to say anything more,” he said as quoted by ANI.
How Was Rao Arrested?
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted Rao, who had arrived from Dubai to Bengaluru via Emirates flight on March 3, 2025. Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.8 kg were found ingeniously concealed on the person. The contraband, valued at Rs. 12.56 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Read More: 15 Visits To Dubai And Same Clothes Every Time: How Actor Ranya Rao Was Caught In Big Gold Seizure
Following the arrest, officials raided her residence at Nandwani Mansion in Lavelle Road. The search led to the seizure of Rs 2.67 crore in cash and gold worth Rs 2.06 crore. The officials took three large boxes from her house after the raid. The total seizure stands at Rs 17.29 crore.
Rao was presented before an economic offences court, which remanded her to 14 days in judicial custody.
Who Is Ranya Rao?
Ranya Rao has acted in several Kannada and Tamil films, including Maanikya (starring Sudeep), Pataki (with Ganesh), and Wagah (featuring Vikram Prabhu), and is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, the DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.
