Gold worth Rs 17.29 crore seized; Actress made 27 trips to Dubai in six months
A special court for economic offences in Bengaluru on Friday granted the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) three-day custody of actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested earlier this week at Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold from Dubai.
Custodial Interrogation Approved by Court
The DRI sought Rao’s custodial interrogation to uncover the source of the gold and its intended recipients, raising concerns of possible links to "anti-national activities." The special court accepted the request, facilitating a deeper investigation into the high-profile smuggling case.
During Friday’s hearing, the DRI presented a detailed statement obtained from Rao, further strengthening their plea for custody.
Frequent Dubai Visits Under Scrutiny
According to DRI investigators, Rao—identified in her passport as Harshavardini Ranya—had travelled to Dubai 27 times in the past six months alone. This unusually high frequency of trips has raised suspicions regarding the nature and purpose of her repeated visits.
Following her arrest, Rao claimed she was employed as a freelancer in Dubai’s real estate sector.
Massive Seizure: Gold and Cash Recovered
At the time of her arrest at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, officials seized gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from the 34-year-old actress. Subsequent raids conducted at her residence led to the additional recovery of gold jewellery valued at Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
The cumulative seizure in this case amounts to Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs 4.73 crore, marking a major crackdown on organised gold smuggling networks.
Actress Has High-Profile Family Connections
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, according to a senior police official.
Investigation into Possible Past Smuggling Activities
Officials confirmed they had been closely monitoring Rao’s movements for a substantial period due to her frequent international travels. The investigators are currently probing whether Rao had previously smuggled gold on similar occasions.
It is also alleged that Rao frequently utilised VIP channels at Bengaluru airport, where protocol officials facilitated her swift and hassle-free security clearance, enabling her to evade regular airport scrutiny.
This 14.2 kg seizure is among the largest gold confiscations reported at Kempegowda International Airport in recent history, according to authorities involved in the case.