Smuggling Attempt at Kempegowda Airport Foiled: DRI Arrests actor  Ranya Rao with 14 Kg Gold

Bengaluru: In a stunning turn of events, actor  Ranya Rao, daughter of K. Ramachandrarao, a top police officer who is the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Karnataka, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on Monday evening for trying to smuggle 14 kilograms of gold into India from Dubai. The gold was tied around her body in the shape of 14 gold bars, a brazen attempt that left the authorities amazed.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), based on certain intelligence, intercepted Ranya Rao at the airport while screening passengers as part of routine checks. On a detailed search, the authorities found the gold bars well hidden under her apparel. The bars were well wrapped in close-fitting packaging and strapped around her waist tightly to avoid detection. The value of the seized gold is estimated to be over ₹7 crore in the domestic market.

Reports from the DRI said Ranya, who was aboard a Gulf Airlines flight from Dubai, was serving as a courier of an international gold smuggling syndicate that was well-organized. The government believes that the operation might be part of a bigger scheme of illegal gold trafficking. More investigations are conducted to learn more about the full extent of the smuggling operation, such as whether other people or accomplices are involved in the illegal business.

In a press release, the DRI has confirmed the arrest and said Ranya Rao was questioned regarding the destination and source of the gold. “We are in the process of collecting all the relevant information about the smuggling ring, and the probe is underway,” said a top DRI official.

Ranya Rao’s arrest has caused a shockwave both in the police community and the general public. With her link to a top police officer, this case poses serious questions about the role of people with influential backgrounds in crime.

Socialite Ranya, who was also previously involved in several philanthropic activities, was stunned by the arrest, and many people have been left shell-shocked. There has not been an official statement on the issue from her family.

The DRI’s prompt action has again highlighted its determination to combat illegal gold smuggling, which is a recurring problem in India, especially at airports. The authorities have been increasing surveillance and intelligence gathering to target such operations, and this arrest is a reminder of the continuous fight against cross-border smuggling syndicates.

As the investigation continues, more information is likely to come out about the level of Ranya Rao’s involvement in the crime and whether or not she has any connections to wider international smuggling syndicates.