In wake of Ranya smuggling case, Karnataka Government to Overhaul Airport Protocol

The Karnataka government is set to revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at Bengaluru International Airport, restricting the misuse of protocol staff services by family members and associates of senior bureaucrats. The decision follows the arrest of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of a senior police officer, for allegedly smuggling gold worth several crore.

Also Read: Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Actor ‘confesses’; promises support in investigation

State Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed that the Director General of Police (DGP) has been instructed to initiate the changes, which will be handled by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

According to the preliminary investigation, Ranya Rao reportedly used her family’s influence to evade airport security checks while smuggling gold from the UAE. She allegedly made 30 trips to Dubai in one year, smuggling multiple kilos of gold on each trip before being caught. Officials believe she earned ₹12-13 lakh per trip, receiving ₹1 lakh per kilogram of gold smuggled. A police constable at the airport is also suspected of aiding her.

During interrogation, Rao admitted to smuggling 17 gold bars and revealed she had traveled to Europe, America, and the Middle East. She has claimed she was trapped into the smuggling network, while authorities are intensifying their efforts to track down the masterminds behind the operation. She has been remanded to three days in custody for further questioning.