Caught with 14.8 kg Gold at Bengaluru airport Bengaluru (4) – Kannada actress Ranya Rao was caught smuggling 14.8 kg of gold at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru late on Monday night. The value of this gold is estimated to be around Rs 12.56 crore.Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao. Ranya Rao is known for her role opposite Kannada superstar Sudeep in the film ‘Manikya’. She has also acted in other South Indian films. She made four trips to Dubai in the last 15 days and 30 trips to Saudi Arabia in the last year, which raised DRI’s suspicions. She is suspected of smuggling gold on each trip. She was earning Rs 12-13 lakh while smuggling gold on each trip.She used to take advantage of her high-level contacts to escape questioning at the airport. It is alleged that a police constable named Basavaraj helped her escape at the airport. When DRI officials stopped her, constable Basavaraj attempted to intervene, claiming she was the daughter of DJP Ramachandra Rao. However ignoring this, the DRI officials caught her with the gold. Ranya Rao had gold plated on her body, including her thighs and waist, and had hidden it with clothes. She was wearing a special jacket and waist belt to hide the gold. As per DRI rules, frequent travellers to the region are screened.Authorities are investigating her financial dealings in depth. The DRI suspects that she is part of a larger smuggling racket.Efforts are on to find out if her network of officials, politicians, policemen, and businessmen is connected to the gold smuggling. DRI officials have raided her house in Bengaluru and seized gold ornaments worth Rs 2.6 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.During interrogation, Ranya Rao revealed that she was blackmailed into smuggling gold. Ranya Rao was produced before the Economic Offences Court and has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody.
Dr. Anupriya Gaikwad
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