Kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested earlier this month at Bengaluru airport for gold smuggling, told Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials that it was her first time smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru, India Today reported. She also shared that she learned how to conceal gold bars through YouTube videos.
Details of the Smuggling Attempt
Rao revealed that she had been receiving calls from anonymous numbers for two weeks prior to the incident.
“The gold was in two plastic-covered packets. I strapped the gold bars on my body inside the airport restroom. I concealed the gold in my jeans and shoes. I learned how to do this from YouTube videos,” she explained.
“This was my first attempt at smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. I never brought or bought gold from Dubai in the past,” she said, denying her previous claims to DRI officials.
Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao’s stepdaughter Ranya Rao was arrested trying to smuggle 14.2 kg gold worth ₹12.56 crore at Kempegowda International Airport. The gold, weighing 14.2 kg and worth ₹12.56 crore, was in the form of gold biscuits concealed on her person.
What Happened at Dubai Airport?
In the course of the investigation, Rao revealed that she bought crepe bandages and scissors in Dubai airport prior to fastening the gold bars to her body within a bathroom.
I got a call from a foreign number on March 1. I had been getting calls from unknown foreign numbers for the last two weeks. I was told to report to Gate A at Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport. I was asked to pick up the gold at Dubai Airport and drop it in Bengaluru,” she was quoted as saying by India Today.
She, however, said she did not know the name of the caller who had reached out and directed her.
“I don’t know exactly who called me. The caller spoke with an African-American accent. The man was about 6 feet tall and had a fair complexion,” she stated.
Ranya Rao’s Arrest
Ranya Rao was detained by the DRI on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. She was produced before a special court for economic offenses the next day, where she was sent to judicial custody till March 18.
While being interrogated, Rao stated that she had gone to Dubai on business. But investigators believe that she had gone there for gold smuggling. She was initially put under DRI custody until March 10 for investigation.
The Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru allowed her to meet her lawyer for 30 minutes a day during her three-day DRI custody.
Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar, who was the presiding judge, instructed the DRI to provide Rao with basic amenities like food and a bed. He also warned officials against subjecting her to any tough treatment during the probe.
