The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, seizing 14.8 kilograms of gold valued at over Rs12 crore.
Local media reported the bust on Wednesday, spotlighting a dramatic Ranya Rao gold smuggling case rocking South India’s film and law enforcement circles.
Arriving on an Emirates flight from Dubai, Ranya had been on the DRI’s watchlist due to her frequent international jaunts, four trips in just 15 days sparked suspicion. Authorities caught her red-handed, discovering she’d cleverly concealed most of the gold on her body, with additional bars hidden in her clothing. After her arrest, the DRI whisked her to their Bengaluru headquarters for intense questioning. On Tuesday, a court remanded her to 14-day judicial custody, signaling a deepening probe.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru airport for smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai after being under DRI surveillance for frequent travel
More Details 🔗https://t.co/XSO5zNoXsZ pic.twitter.com/TjZcC03paH
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) March 5, 2025The actress, stepdaughter of Karnataka’s senior IPS officer and DGP of the State Police Housing Corporation, K. Ramachandra Rao, allegedly leveraged her family ties. Reports claim she’d flash her DGP connection to snag police escorts home, dodging thorough checks.
The DRI is now digging into whether any officers, willingly or not, aided her Ranya Rao gold smuggling scheme. Her stepfather has distanced himself, stating he’d had no contact with her for months and knew nothing of her activities.
#Gravitas | Kannada actor Ranya Rao arrested at India's Bengaluru airport for alleged gold smuggling.
The 33-year-old daughter of senior police officer reportedly smuggled 14.8 kgs of gold worth $1.44 million from Dubai.@mollygambhir tells you more pic.twitter.com/7suRZnKYEJ
— WION (@WIONews) March 5, 2025Known for her role opposite superstar Sudeep in Maanikya (2014), Ranya has starred in several Kannada and Tamil films, including Wagah (2016) and Pataki (2017). Her frequent Dubai trips, with no clear business or family ties, tipped off the DRI. Acting on precise intel, they intercepted her flight, uncovering a haul that ranks among Bengaluru Airport’s biggest gold seizures. The agency now probes if she’s a lone operator or a cog in a larger smuggling network.
