Actor Ranya Rao admits receiving 17 gold bars from Dubai: Report
Authorities arrested Kannada actress Ranya Rao for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. During police interrogation, she admitted carrying 17 gold bars on her body. She also detailed her international travel history, including visits to Europe, America, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia.
Rao’s Statement and Legal Proceedings
Rao, daughter of real estate businessman KS Hegdesh and wife of architect Jatin Hukkeri, confirmed she was receiving a fair trial. She denied coercion and stated that she refused food in custody because she was not hungry.
Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended Rao at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after receiving a tip. The special court for financial offenses placed her in judicial custody until March 18. Her bail plea is scheduled for hearing today.
Smuggling Network Investigation
DRI seeks three days of further interrogation starting March 9 to determine whether Rao was part of a larger smuggling network. They revealed that this was one of the largest gold seizures at Bengaluru airport in recent years.
Investigators stated that Rao strapped gold bars to her body and covered them with clothing to evade detection. She reportedly took over 30 short trips to Dubai in the past year. Authorities suspect she used her stepfather K Ramachandra Rao’s police connections to bypass security checks.
Family Distances Itself
K Ramachandra Rao denied involvement, claiming he had no contact with Ranya since her marriage. Meanwhile, DRI officials searched Rao’s residence and seized gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities focus on potential links between Rao and an international smuggling network.
