Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: The gold smuggling operation involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of a senior police officer, has unraveled shocking details about her modus operandi. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Ranya Rao at Bengaluru Airport with gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore strapped to her body in a hidden waist belt. The probe has revealed that she travelled to Dubai 30 times over the past year to smuggle gold.
Further investigations led to the seizure of ₹17.29 crore from her Bengaluru residence, including ₹2.06 crore in gold jewelry and ₹2.67 crore in cash. Her father, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has distanced himself from the case, stating that his daughter lived separately with her husband.
Key Findings in the Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case
• 30 Dubai Trips in One Year: Ranya Rao made frequent trips to Dubai, allegedly smuggling large amounts of goldeach time.
• ₹12-13 Lakh Per Trip: She was reportedly paid ₹1 lakh per kg of smuggled gold, earning around ₹12-13 lakh per trip.
• Modified Jackets & Waist Belts Used: To evade airport security, Ranya allegedly used special jackets and hidden waist belts to conceal the gold.
• Airport Constable’s Involvement Suspected: A police constable at Bengaluru Airport is suspected of helping Ranya bypass security checks.
• Larger Smuggling Network: Authorities suspect the involvement of politicians, businessmen, and police officers in this high-profile smuggling racket.
Interestingly, her father, DGP Ramachandra Rao, was reportedly linked to a gold consignment robbery in Mysuru several years ago, according to an Indian Express report. The investigation is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies probing her connections with larger criminal networks.
