Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress and stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, has been arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on charges of gold smuggling. The arrest, which occurred on Monday night, has sparked significant public and political attention, with early investigations suggesting she may have attempted to use her family connections to bypass customs checks.
Key Confessions by Ranya Rao
17 Gold Bars Seized: In her confession, Ranya admitted that authorities found 17 gold bars on her during the arrest. According to a leaked statement, she also disclosed details of her international travels, which included frequent trips to the Middle East, Dubai, and several Western nations.
Tired from Travels: Ranya, in her statement, mentioned her exhaustion due to constant travel, saying, “I have traveled to Europe, America, and the Middle East, and visited Dubai, Saudi Arabia. I am tired as I did not get enough rest.”
Family Background: The actress further revealed her family background, stating that her father is real estate businessman KS Hegdesh, and her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, is an architect.
Cooperation in Investigation: Ranya assured authorities that she would cooperate fully in the investigation. She also mentioned that she had declined food during her time in custody, as she wasn’t hungry, and emphasized that her confession was voluntary and made without any coercion.
Frequent Dubai Trips and Seizure of Gold
Ranya’s frequent travels had raised suspicions, with reports indicating that she made 27 trips to Dubai in the past year alone. This led the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to monitor her activities. Upon her arrest, authorities seized over 14 kilograms of gold, valued at ₹14.56 crore, marking one of the largest gold seizures in recent times in Bengaluru.
Investigators believe Ranya was involved in a smuggling network, allegedly earning ₹4-5 lakh per kilogram of gold smuggled from Dubai to Bengaluru. Some of the gold was concealed by wearing it, while the rest was hidden in her clothing.
After her arrest, authorities raided her residence and recovered additional gold jewelry worth ₹2 crore, along with ₹2.67 crore in cash.
This incident has raised questions about the involvement of individuals in high-profile smuggling operations and has brought Ranya Rao’s name into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
