The Impressive TimesBengaluru : Ranya Rao, actor and daughter of a senior IPS officer, was moments away from clearing airport security at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport when a team from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted her, recovering gold bars worth Rs 12 crore that she was allegedly smuggling.
The 33-year-old actor, who made her debut in the 2014 Kannada film Maanikya, had arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight. Investigations revealed that two individuals accompanying her were carrying the smuggled gold in briefcases. They had nearly cleared security and were about to exit when the DRI, acting on specific intelligence, stopped them for 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.
Following the airport bust, DRI officers conducted a raid at her residence on Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. The search resulted in the seizure of additional assets, including gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
“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 organized gold smuggling networks,” the DRI added in its statement.
Authorities suspect that Ranya Rao was working with a larger smuggling syndicate. Investigators are now probing her connections and the source of the smuggled gold. The agency is also examining potential accomplices who might have aided her in bypassing security checks.
The seizure of 14.2 kg of gold is among the largest at Bengaluru airport in recent times. This case highlights the increasing sophistication of gold smuggling operations and the need for stricter enforcement at international entry points. The DRI has reiterated its commitment to cracking down on such illegal activities and ensuring that perpetrators face strict legal consequences.
Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the smuggling network and whether similar operations have taken place in the past. Authorities are also reviewing surveillance footage and passenger data to track any potential links to other smugglers operating through the airport.
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