Bengaluru, March 5, 2025: Indian actor Ranya Rao, daughter of a senior IPS officer, was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport while allegedly attempting to smuggle gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore.
The 33-year-old, who made her debut in the 2014 Kannada film Maanikya, had arrived in Bengaluru on an Emirates flight from Dubai on Monday. She was reportedly accompanied by two individuals carrying gold concealed in briefcases. Just as they were about to exit the airport after nearly clearing security, a DRI team, acting on specific intelligence, stopped them and initiated a search.
“Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on her person. The contraband, valued at ₹12.56 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” a DRI statement confirmed.
Following the airport interception, DRI officers raided Ranya Rao’s residence on Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. The search led to the recovery of gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore.
With these additional seizures, the total value of recovered assets in the case stands at ₹17.29 crore, making it one of the biggest gold smuggling busts at Bengaluru airport in recent times.
Reports suggest that Ranya Rao had been making frequent short trips to Gulf countries, which raised suspicions and put her on the DRI’s radar.
She has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The DRI termed this operation a significant blow to organized gold smuggling networks.
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer. Her stepfather, a high-ranking official, married her mother after the death of his first wife, inheriting two stepdaughters from the marriage, including Ranya.
Authorities are now investigating potential links between this smuggling attempt and larger criminal syndicates operating between India and the Gulf region.
