Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday night at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on charges of gold smuggling. Ranya Rao is the daughter of Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Police (Police Housing Corporation). She was caught with 14 kg of gold bars and 800 grams of gold jewelry hidden in a belt upon her arrival from Dubai. On Tuesday evening, Ranya was presented before a judge and sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Investigators suspect that she is part of a smuggling syndicate that has been actively operating through Bengaluru airport for the past few months.

Ranya Rao’s Career in Kannada Cinema

The 32-year-old actress has worked in several Kannada films, including Manikya, starring Sudeep, and Pataki, featuring Ganesh. She has also acted in the Tamil film Wagah, alongside Vikram Prabhu. Sources indicate that Ranya came under DRI’s radar due to her frequent foreign travels. Reportedly, she has made over ten international trips since the beginning of this year.

An officer stationed at KIA stated, “Officials grew suspicious and began monitoring her frequent short trips to Gulf countries.” When she boarded an Emirates flight from Dubai to Bengaluru on Monday, a DRI team was deployed to intercept her. “It was shocking to see how she had concealed the gold bars in her belt. When she disembarked, she appeared very confident and did not arouse any suspicion.”

DRI Investigation and Arrest

A four-member DRI team is currently reviewing footage of Ranya Rao’s recent visits to the city. A source stated, “In her past four trips within 15 days, she was wearing similar outfits and hiding the belt.” The DRI is investigating whether she smuggled gold on all these occasions and determining the total amount of gold she has brought into the country. According to sources, she allegedly evaded detection by taking advantage of official protocol services, which are typically used by senior bureaucrats, including IPS officers.

A source revealed, “A protocol officer would meet her at the terminal and escort her out of the building. While her luggage underwent routine checks, she was never subjected to a physical search due to the presence of the protocol officer. In fact, a government vehicle would transport her from the airport to ensure a smooth exit.”

DGP Ramachandra Rao’s Response

Meanwhile, DGP Ramachandra Rao has distanced himself from his daughter’s activities. He stated, “Ranya married Jatin Hukkeri, an architect specializing in designing upscale pubs and microbreweries, four months ago. Since her marriage, she has not visited us. We are completely unaware of her or her husband’s business dealings. This is a massive shock and disappointment. She has let us down. If any violations have occurred, the law will take its course.”

In 2014, when Ramachandra Rao was the Inspector General of Police (Southern Range), the Mysuru police came under scrutiny after a Kerala jeweler accused them of misappropriating ₹2 crore. On January 4 that year, a police team intercepted a private bus at the Mysuru border and seized ₹2.2 crore in cash, which was being transported to Kerala. However, when the case was officially registered, only ₹20 lakh was declared as unaccounted money. Later, the CID investigated the matter and arrested Ramachandra Rao’s gunman on charges of robbery.