Ranya Rao Remanded in Custody for Alleged Gold Smuggling

Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of an IPS officer, is in custody until March 10 for alleged gold smuggling at Bengaluru airport. Accused of carrying 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 14.5 crore, her frequent trips to Dubai raised suspicions. The DRI is investigating her potential links to a smuggling network as state authorities review related policies.

Actor Ranya Rao, who is the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service officer Ramachandra Rao, was remanded into the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) until March 10 in connection with a gold smuggling case. The 33-year-old actress, who broke down in court, is accused of smuggling gold bars weighing 14.2 kg, valued at approximately Rs 14.5 crore, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

The DRI requested her custodial interrogation to uncover the origins and destination of the seized gold, citing potential threats to national security. A special economic offenses court granted the DRI custody until 4 PM on March 10, instructing Ms Rao to cooperate with investigators while allowing her limited access to her legal counsel.

Following the court proceedings, Ms Rao exhibited visible distress. The DRI became suspicious after noting her frequent travels to Dubai, totaling four visits in just 15 days. Upon her arrest, she admitted to carrying 17 gold bars and disclosed her extensive travel history, which included 27 trips to Dubai over the past year.

Reports suggest that Ms Rao was involved in a smuggling operation, receiving commissions of Rs 4-5 lakh per kg for transporting gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. This gold seizure is among the most significant in recent times at the Bengaluru airport, with further searches at her residence uncovering gold jewelry valued at Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

In light of the incident, Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced that the state is reviewing the protocol policy questioned by allegations of its misuse in gold smuggling. Ms Rao disclosed that her father, KS Hegdesh, is a real estate businessman and her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, is an architect residing with her in Bengaluru. Ramachandra Rao, her stepfather and Director-General of Police of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, expressed his ignorance concerning the smuggling allegations and lamented his stepdaughter’s predicament.

In summary, Ranya Rao’s case has drawn significant attention due to her connections and the substantial quantity of gold involved. The DRI’s ongoing investigation aims to uncover deeper links within the smuggling network, while policy reviews are being considered by the Karnataka government in response to this serious incident. The situation remains a developing story, reflecting broader concerns regarding gold smuggling in the region.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com