Bollywood’s gold smuggling twist: Ranya Rao admits to bars, secret trips

The Kannada actor Ranya Rao caught attention for illicit reasons as she revealed during her Monday night arrest at the Bengaluru airport that she smuggled gold. She is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.Director-General of Police for Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ramachandra Rao has denied participation in the case even though the matter involved massive public and political discussion that showed investigators the actress sought to avoid customs checks because of her connections.

Ranya Rao reveals family background

According to her statement Ranya Rao disclosed that she is the daughter of businessman KS Hegdesh and wife of architect Jatin Hukkeri. Targeting the upcoming investigation Ranya Rao declared her readiness to assist but she chose not to eat anything: Ranya Rao expressed her willingness to support the investigation from her judicial custody until the scheduled hearing. In her statement Ranya Rao expressed her belief that the trial was just and she made her confession willingly without anyone forcing her to do so. Ranya Rao made it clear that she refused food during the interview period since she did not feel hungry at that moment.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Reports that Ranya took 27 flights to Dubai last year caused the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to monitor her activities continuously. Law enforcement officials arrested Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru during Monday evening after they found 14 kilograms of gold worth Rs14.56 crore in her possession which became one of the biggest gold seizures in the city during recent times.

Illegal smuggling ring that transported Dubai gold into Bengaluru

Ranya Rao operated as part of an illegal smuggling ring that transported Dubai gold into Bengaluru while accepting substantial payment fees attaining between Rs4-5 lakh for each kilogram of gold. The gold smuggling operation required Ranya Rao to both wear some of the items as well as stow the rest within her outfit. During the raid of her house officials recovered more than Rs2 crore worth of gold jewelry and roughly Rs2.67 crore in Indian money.