The IPS officer's step-daughter and Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at the Bengaluru airport.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao, was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on March 3, 2025, for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold worth over Rs 12 crore from Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted her upon her arrival from an Emirates flight after receiving intelligence about her involvement in gold smuggling. She was later remanded to judicial custody till March 18, 2025, and raids were conducted at her residence, resulting in the seizure of additional gold and cash worth Rs 17.29 crore.
Arrest and preliminary investigation
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Ranya Rao, known for her roles in films such as "Manikya" and "Pataki", was arrested at the airport on the evening of March 3, 2025. DRI officials were tracking her frequent visits to Dubai, including four in just 15 days, raising suspicion of smuggling activities. She was stopped and searched upon her arrival, and 14.8 kg of gold bars were found hidden on her body. The gold was cleverly concealed, with some bars stuck to her thighs with adhesive and wrapped in tape, and others hidden in her jacket. Judicial proceedings After the arrest, Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for economic offences on the evening of March 4, 2025. The judge ordered her judicial custody till March 18, 2025. Before being remanded to judicial custody, she underwent a medical check-up at Bengaluru's Bowring Hospital. Raid at residence A day after the arrest, DRI officials raided Ranya Rao's plush apartment in Bengaluru's Lavelle Road. The searches led to the recovery of additional gold and cash, which included gold worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash worth Rs 2.67 crore Background and links
Ranya Rao, 32, is the stepdaughter of K. Ranya Ramachandra Rao, who is serving as the Director General of Police (DGP) in the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. Her father distanced himself from the case, saying they have not been in touch since their marriage which took place four months ago. Ranya has an engineering background and made her acting debut in 2014 with the Kannada film "Manikya" opposite Sudeep. She has also acted in other South Indian films. During interrogation, Ranya Rao claimed that her Dubai trip was for business purposes. However, DRI officials allege that she was carrying gold, which was being smuggled into India illegally. She also claimed that she was blackmailed to smuggle the gold, but this claim is under investigation. The police have also detained constable Basavaraju and recorded his statement about his involvement in helping Rao at the airport. Investigation and further action The DRI is probing whether any police officer or any IPS officer attached to it was involved in the gold smuggling operation The total amount seized in the case, which includes gold and cash, is Rs 17.29 crore, making it one of the biggest gold smuggling cases at Bengaluru airport in recent times.
Family background and past incidents
Ranya Rao's family has been in the news earlier as well. In 2014, when her father was serving as IGP (Southern Range), the Mysuru police were accused of mishandling a case involving a jeweller from Kerala. The jeweller claimed that the officers had seized Rs 2 crore but registered only Rs 20 lakh, which led to a CID investigation and the arrest of Rao's gunman on charges of robbery.
Ranya Rao's arrest has exposed a significant gold smuggling operation and raised questions about her father's possible abuse of influence. The DRI continues to investigate the case, and more developments are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. Ranya Rao remains in judicial custody, as investigations into her involvement and possible links to a larger smuggling network continue.