Kannada Actress Ranya Rao, Daughter of Senior IPS Officer, Caught Smuggling Gold at Bengaluru Airport
Bengaluru, 6th March 2025: The ongoing investigation into the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, daughter of senior IPS officer Ramchandra Rao, has taken a dramatic turn with the discovery of cash and gold worth crores at her upscale Lavelle Road residence.
According to officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), preliminary findings suggest that the seized gold jewellery was allegedly acquired under the directives of an influential political figure, though further details about the leader remain undisclosed. Sources indicate that the jewellery recovered from her apartment was reportedly procured from a luxury designer store in Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road area.
Ranya was intercepted by DRI officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Monday night upon her arrival from Dubai. She was found carrying 14.2 kg of gold bars strapped to her body with a concealed belt. Following her arrest, authorities raided her apartment, uncovering designer gold ornaments valued at ₹2.1 crore and ₹2.7 crore in cash. This brings the total seizure from the airport and her residence to a staggering ₹17.3 crore.
Ranya’s father, Ramchandra Rao, holds a DGP-rank position and currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
On March 4, Ranya was presented before a special court handling financial offenses. After the hearing, the judge remanded her to judicial custody until March 18, 2025.
DRI officials confirmed that Ranya arrived in Bengaluru on an Emirates flight from Dubai. Acting on prior intelligence regarding her alleged involvement in gold smuggling, a team of officials had been stationed at the airport well before her arrival. After her flight landed around 7 PM, she was taken into custody.
Before being moved to judicial custody, Ranya underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During interrogation, she maintained that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes. However, investigators allege that she was engaged in illegally transporting gold into India.
The seized gold, totaling 14.8 kg, has raised serious concerns regarding the scale of the smuggling network. As the investigation unfolds, Ranya remains in judicial custody while authorities continue their probe into the case.
