In a shocking development, Kannada actress Ranya Rao was detained by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night after officials seized 14.8 kg of gold from her possession.
The actress, who arrived on an Emirates flight from Dubai, had reportedly been under surveillance due to her frequent trips to the UAE.
Also Read – Rajamouli vs Prashanth Neel: Who Has an Edge?
Authorities revealed that Ranya Rao, a close relative of a serving IPS officer in Karnataka, allegedly smuggled gold by wearing it inconspicuously and hiding gold bars within her clothing.
Initial reports suggest that upon arrival, she falsely claimed to be the daughter of the Director General of Police (DGP) and called local police for a pick-up, effectively bypassing suspicion.
Also Read – Watch: Manchu Vishnu on Paid Troll Campaigns
The DRI is now investigating whether these officers or her IPS relative had any involvement or were unknowingly assisting her.
Investigators were tipped off after noticing that Ranya had flown to Dubai four times within 15 days. Following her detention, she was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru’s HBR Layout for questioning and is expected to be produced before the court on Tuesday.
Also Read – Tollywood Fanwars Take Ugly Turn: Pathetic!
Officials are probing whether she was acting alone or was part of a larger smuggling syndicate. However, the DRI has yet to release an official statement.
Ranya Rao, who debuted in Sudeep’s Maanikya (2014), later appeared in Tamil and Kannada films like Wagah (2016) and Pataki (2017).
A Chikmagalur native and an engineering graduate from Dayananda Sagar College, she trained at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute before entering films.
