The investigation into the gold smuggling involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of a senior police officer, has revealed startling details about her modus operandi. Rao was arrested with gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore strapped to her body in a hidden waist belt from the Bengaluru airport.
Ranya, who arrived in Bengaluru on an Emirates flight from Dubai on Monday night, had been under DRI surveillance due to her frequent international trips. Officials said she managed to wear most of the gold inconspicuously while also concealing gold bars in her clothing.
'Was Blackmailed'
According to reports, during police questioning, Rao alleged that she was blackmailed into smuggling gold. Authorities are now investigating her frequent trips to Dubai with her husband, Jatin, despite there being no clear business or family ties to the location. Investigators suspect that she may have received police escorts to bypass security checks at the airport. Her husband is also expected to be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
30+ Dubai Trips, Rs 12 Lakh Per Trip
Ranya Rao, who has acted in three films so far, travelled to Dubai 30 times over the past year and allegedly brought back huge amounts of gold, sources told India Today.
According to reports, the actor was paid Rs 1 lakh per kilogram of smuggled gold, allegedly earning around Rs 12-13 lakh per trip.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that Rao used specially altered jackets and waist belts to smuggle the gold, allowing her to evade airport security.
'Unaware Of This,' Says Ranya라이브 바카라 Father
Ramachandra Rao, Director-General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation), also said, "Like any other father, I was shocked and devastated when it came to my notice through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. I don't want to say anything more."
"The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career," he told news agency ANI. "She is not living with us... she is living separately with her husband. There must be some problem between them... (maybe) due to some family issues," the top cop said.
