According to reports, Ranya Rao had been making frequent short visits to Gulf countries and this put her on the DRI radar.
Ranya Rao, actor and the daughter of a senior IPS officer, was one step away from clearing airport security at Bengaluru when a team of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted her and recovered gold bars worth Rs 12 crore she was allegedly smuggling.
The 33-year-old actor, who started her career with 2014 Kannada film Maanikya, had flown in from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Monday. It is alleged that two people accompanying her were carrying the smuggled gold in briefcases. They had almost cleared security at the Kempegowda airport and were about to exit when a DRI team, which had specific intel about the smuggling attempt, stopped her and started a search.
“Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on person. The contraband, valued at Rs 12.56 crore was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” a DRI statement said.
The search then moved to her home on Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road and the investigators found more there. “Following the interception, DRI officers conducted a search at her residential premises located at Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she resides with her husband. The search resulted in the seizure of gold jewelry worth Rs. 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs. 2.67 crore,” the DRI said.
“The lady passenger has been placed under arrest under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 and remanded to judicial custody. The total seizure in the case stands at Rs. 17.29 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks,” the agency’s statement said.
The agency noted that the haul of 14.2 kg is “one of the biggest seizures of gold” at Bengaluru airport in recent times.
According to reports, Ranya Rao had been making frequent short visits to Gulf countries and this put her on the DRI radar.
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer. The officer’s first wife had died and he married a woman who had two daughters from her first marriage. Ranya is one of them.
Actress Ranya Rao’s bail application to be heard today in gold smuggling case
The bail application of actress Ranya Rao, arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case, is set to be heard on Thursday at the 24th ACMM court in Bengaluru.
Ranya, known for her roles in Kannada films like ‘Maanikya’ and ‘Pataki’, was detained earlier this week by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after returning from Dubai on March 3, 2025.
Ranya’s arrest followed a tip-off regarding her involvement in smuggling gold into India. DRI officials had stationed a team at the airport to intercept her upon arrival, and she was taken into custody immediately after landing.
Authorities allege that Ranya was carrying 14.8 kilograms of gold, which she intended to smuggle into the country.
Ranya’s stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Police (DGP) for the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, expressed his shock and distress upon hearing of his stepdaughter’s arrest.
In a conversation with ANI, Rao said, “I was 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, and there must be some problem between them due to some family issues.”
He added, “The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career.” He reassured the public that he had no prior knowledge of his stepdaughter’s alleged illegal activities.
Ranya’s arrest has stirred significant public and political discussion. Congress MLA and Legal Advisor to the Karnataka Chief Minister, AS Ponnanna, emphasized that the law would take its course, regardless of Ranya’s connections.
“She has been accused of smuggling, and the law will take its course–whether she is the daughter of the DGP, the Chief Minister, or the Prime Minister. If any official nexus is involved, the investigation will reveal it,” Ponnanna said to the media.
On March 4, Ranya was produced before a special court for financial offences and was remanded to judicial custody until March 18, 2025.
Prior to her transfer to custody, she underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.
During questioning Ranya reportedly claimed that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes, through authorities allege that her visit was linked to the illegal importation of Gold.
