BENGALURU: Kannada film actor Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold worth over Rs 12 crore from Dubai, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Notably, Ranya Rao is the daughter of IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) at the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.
According to airport sources, the actress alighted from an Emirates flight at T2 on Monday night when she was held while passing through the immigration clearance section.
Rao had worn the gold on her person and hidden it inside the clothing she was wearing too, they said.
Authorities had placed Rao under surveillance after noting her frequent visits to Dubai—multiple trips within a span of 15 days.
A source revealed that she would regularly seek police assistance at the airport, claiming to be the daughter of a DGP, and would be escorted out without checks.
Authorities are now probing whether any law enforcement officers, including her IPS father, were aware of her activities or were misled into assisting her. Following her arrest, Rao was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru's HBR Layout for questioning.
Officials are investigating whether the actress acted alone or was part of a larger gold smuggling syndicate operating between Dubai and India.
Rao was taken to the DRI Headquarters at HBR Layout on Tuesday. She was produced before the 42nd Additional Sessions Court in the City.
"A case has been filed against her under different sections of the Customs Act and Customs officials have taken her into custody," said a top cop.
The value of the gold she has smuggled would roughly be worth Rs 12.5 crore.
Customs said they would not release any official statement on the issue.
Who is Ranya Rao
Hailing from Chikmagalur in Karnataka, Ranya, pursued engineering at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru before venturing into the film industry, Times of India reported.
Ranya made her film debut in 2014 with the Kannada movie Maanikya, directed by and starring Sudeep.
She played Manasa, a wealthy young woman and the protagonist’s love interest.
Rao made her Tamil debut in 2016 with Wagah, where she starred opposite Vikram Prabhu in a romantic drama. The following year, she returned to Kannada films with Pataki, a comedy where she portrayed Sangeetha, a journalist and the love interest of actor Ganesh’s character.