BENGALURU: Bengaluru authorities have arrested Kannada film actress Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold, worth around Rs 120 million. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted the actress after she returned from Dubai following several suspicious trips in recent weeks.
According to Indian media reports, Ranya Rao was under surveillance for frequently travelling between India and Dubai. In the last 15 days, she had reportedly visited Dubai four times, which raised red flags among customs officials.
Upon arrival in Bengaluru, authorities conducted a thorough search and found that the actress had hidden gold bars in her clothes and a custom-made jacket. The seizure led to her immediate arrest, and the smuggled gold was seized.
During questioning, Rao allegedly claimed to be the daughter of a senior police officer, the Director General of Police (DGP), in an attempt to evade arrest. However, authorities are currently verifying this claim.
The actress is being further questioned after her arrest and is expected to be produced before a court in Bangalore soon. Authorities are also investigating whether she was acting alone or part of a larger smuggling network.
Ranya Rao is best known in the Kannada film industry, particularly for her role in the film Manikya opposite superstar Sudeep.
