Ranya Rao learnt to hide smuggled gold online, justifies frequent flying to Dubai

Actor Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai to Bengaluru. She was apprehended at Bengaluru airport with the gold strapped to her body in the form of biscuits.

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During interrogation, Rao admitted to smuggling gold for the first time. She revealed that she had been receiving calls from unknown foreign numbers for two weeks before her arrest. On March 1, she was instructed to go to Gate A at Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport, where she collected the gold from an unknown individual. She purchased crepe bandages and scissors at the airport and concealed the gold bars in her jeans and shoes inside a restroom. She learned the technique from online videos.

The person who handed her the gold was described as a six-foot-tall, fair-skinned man with an African-American accent. After a security check, he quickly departed. Rao was directed to deliver the gold to an unknown recipient in Bengaluru by placing it in an autorickshaw near the airport toll gate without being given the vehicle’s details.

Rao disclosed using Jatin Vijay Kumar’s credit card to book her flight and justified her frequent international travel by citing her involvement in photography and real estate. Based on data extracted from her phone and laptop, the DRI is tracking the smuggling syndicate members.