How Kannada film celebrity Ranya Rao was captured contraband gold from Dubai–

An extravagant movie job, constant Dubai journeys, and a supposed contraband procedure worth crores–Kannada starlet Ranya Rao’s significant apprehension at Bengaluru airport terminal has actually currently made headings.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) collared the starlet on Monday as she purportedly tried to smuggle 14.8 kilogrammes of gold right into India, a haul valued at virtually Rs 13 crore.

But this had not been a one-off event.

Authorities had actually been tracking her activities for some time, observing her duplicated traveling pattern and her computed efforts to bypass customizeds with each journey from the UAE. This time, nevertheless, when Rao was one action far from getting rid of safety, DRI captured her openly, and discovered what is described to be the most significant seizure of gold at the Bengaluru airport terminal.

Notably, Rao is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, an elderly IPS police officer from Karnataka, that is presently working as Director-General of Police (DGP) at Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.

So, what resulted in her apprehension? How did authorities discover the contraband procedure? Here’s what we understand thus far.

Four Dubai journeys in 15 days

According to India Today, Rao had actually been under security for rather time as a result of her constant journeys to the UAE with her partner, Jatin, regardless of having no clear company or household connections there.

Sources disclosed that Rao had actually taken a trip to Dubai 4 times within a period of simply 15 days, a pattern that instantly increased warnings for authorities.

Each time she went back to Bengaluru, she was seen using a visible quantity of gold jewelry. Adding to the uncertainty, she was observed using the very same collection of clothing on each journey.

Acting on a secret information, DRI authorities obstructed Rao upon her arrival from Dubai to Bengaluru through an Emirates trip on March 3, 2025. As per DRI procedures, travelers that make constant journeys to certain areas undergo complete checks.

During the inspecting procedure, detectives found that she had actually tried to smuggle gold by using a big quantity of it and hiding gold bars within her apparel.

A Times of India record, mentioning resources, explained exactly how police officers were “shocked to find gold bars cleverly concealed in a belt.”

“Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kilogrammes were found ingeniously concealed on person. The contraband, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” the DRI mentioned.

Following her apprehension, Rao was required to the DRI head office in Bengaluru’s HBR Layout for doubting.

The examination really did not quit there. DRI authorities looked her home on Lavelle Road, where she coped with her partner.

“Following the interception, DRI officers conducted a search at her residential premises located at Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she resides with her husband. The search resulted in the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore,” the firm mentioned.

Frequent journeys to Dubai, Smuggling of gold, 4.5 lakh/month house, Jewellery worth 2.06 crore and cash money amounting 2.67 crore confiscated. #RanyaRao pic.twitter.com/w5MZzc0ooc

— Pinky Rajpurohit (@Madrassan_Pinky) March 5, 2025

With the complete worth of the taken properties standing at Rs 17.29 crore, the breast dealt a considerable impact to arranged gold contraband networks, authorities included.

Rao was ultimately scheduled under the appropriate arrangements of the Customs Act, 1962 and existed prior to a financial offenses court. She was remanded to 2 week of judicial custodianship.

Also read:
Who is Ranya Rao, the Kannada starlet captured contraband gold bars in her belt?

Bypassed customizeds checks each time

During examination before her apprehension, authorities saw that Rao apparently took care of to bypass rigorous customizeds checks. Each time she returned from Dubai, she had an authorities companion that aided her browse previous airport terminal safety.

Even on the day of her apprehension, Rao apparently tried to prevent safety testing with the assistance of an authorities constable, recognized as Basavaraju, that accompanied her, India Today reported.

Following her apprehension, authorities likewise took constable Basavaraju right into custodianship and tape-recorded his declaration concerning his claimed function in aiding Rao at the airport terminal.

During doubting, Rao declared that she had actually been blackmailed right into contraband gold. Investigators are currently penetrating whether she was acting alone or if she belonged to a bigger contraband network running in between Dubai and India.

Meanwhile, her dad has actually distanced himself from her activities. He disclosed that Rao had actually not touched with the household considering that her marital relationship to Jatin Hukkeri 4 months back. Hukkeri, a designer, is understood for making clubs and microbreweries.

Expressing his shock and dissatisfaction, he informed The Times of India, “She has let us down. If she has done anything wrong, the law will take its course.”

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara decreased to discuss the concern, claiming the situation was under examination.

“We are investigating the case. But unless and until they come out with definite information, we cannot say anything. I don’t know anything. I am simply speculating. If it was police work; we would have gotten information, all this has to be found out and then I can come and say. Internally, yes, from the department I can definitely get some information,” he was priced quote as claiming by India Today.

Who is Ranya Rao?

Originally from Chikmagalur, Karnataka, Ranya Rao is a prominent starlet.

She went after design at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru prior to making her means right into the movie sector.

She made her acting launching in 2014 with the Kannada movie Maanikya, routed bySudeep In the movie, she played a well-off girl and the lead character’s love passion. According to Mint, the 33-year-old landed the sustaining function after her mom and well-wishers shared her profile with casting planners.

Ranya later on showed up in various other South Indian movies, consisting of the 2015 Tamil film Wagah and the 2017 Kannada funny Pataki.

With input from companies