Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Live: Karnataka DGP's daughter remanded to 3-day DRI custody

Big Breaking: Karnataka DGP's daughter Ranya Rao remanded in 3-day DRI custody in gold smuggling case

No job, no film assignments: How Ranya Rao’s frequent foreign trips caught DRI’s attention

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) flagged Sandalwood actress Ranya Rao’s travel history, citing entries in her passport and available data. Investigators revealed that she had visited Dubai 27 times and traveled to over 45 countries despite having no professional job or multiple film assignments that would justify such frequent international trips. “She is neither a working professional nor does she have multiple film assignments that warrant frequent travel to foreign countries,” investigators pointed out. On Wednesday, the DRI confirmed the seizure of gold bars worth Rs15 crore from Ranya Rao at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Following her arrest, searches at her Lavelle Road residence led to the recovery of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. Officials stated that the total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore.

The arrest of Sandalwood actor Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport for smuggling gold has raised several questions about a possible larger network behind her. Authorities are now probing whether she had accomplices and if a smuggling syndicate was involved. Terming it a matter of national security, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has sought her custody for further interrogation. “This apart, there are many unanswered questions: Who is helping Ranya? Is there a smuggling syndicate behind her? A deep investigation is necessary,” the public prosecutor argued, urging the court to grant her custody for three days from March 9. Rao’s arrest at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for allegedly smuggling 14.8kg of gold has sparked a high-profile investigation, with authorities now scrutinizing her extensive international travel. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has revealed that she visited Dubai 27 times and traveled to over 45 countries, raising suspicions about her frequent trips.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Live: Ranya Rao admits to smuggling 17 gold bars

As per the TV reports, actory Ranya Rao has admitted to smuggling 17 gold bars into the country from Dubai during the interrogation by the DRI sleuths. Ranya said that she intends to cooperate the DRI officials with the investigation into the matter. Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. The total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs 4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks. According to DRI, the 14.2 kg haul is one of the largest gold seizures at Bengaluru airport in recent times.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Live: 'Difficult times for us', says DGP

“No words can truly express the depth of my shock, pain and devastation caused by the recent developments. This is an extremely difficult time for me and my family, and we’re struggling to process it. Ranya and Jatin Hukkeri got married in 2024, and since then they have maintained complete independence and privacy. She stopped visiting the family home, and we were also not given chances to visit them in their new house, resulting in a clear and definitive separation between us and them... If there is any violation of law on Ranya’s part, the law will take its course.”

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Live: Frequent foreign trips raise suspicion

Citing passport records and available data, the DRI revealed that Ranya Rao had traveled to Dubai 27 times and visited over 45 countries. Investigators questioned the necessity of such frequent trips, noting that she neither holds a professional job nor has multiple film projects requiring extensive international travel.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Ranya Rao’s arrest leads to Rs 17.29 crore seizure

Authorities confiscated 14.2 kg of gold valued at Rs 12.56 crore from Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport, along with additional assets worth Rs 17.29 crore, including cash and gold jewelry recovered from her residence.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which busted a gold smuggling racket at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Monday night, sought the custody of Sandalwood actor Ranya Rao for three days from Thursday, citing a ‘threat to national security'.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case Live: Verdict expected today

A Bengaluru court reserved its decision on actress Ranya Rao’s bail plea, with the verdict expected on today after the DRI argued for her three-day custody.