Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 6: Kannada actress Ranya Rao who was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Sunday evening for allegedly smuggling gold, claimed that she was blackmailed into carrying the gold during questioning.
The DRI also detained police constable Basavaraju, who reportedly assisted Rao at the airport. Following her arrest on March 4, officials raided her residence at Nandwani Mansion on Lavelle Road, seizing Rs 2.67 crore in cash and gold valued at Rs 2.06 crore. The total haul, including 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold worth Rs 12.56 crore, is estimated at Rs 17.29 crore.
Ranya Rao, who arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight, allegedly attempted to bypass security with Basavaraju's help. However, DRI officials, acting on prior information, apprehended her with the concealed gold. She was then taken to the DRI office in Nagavara for further investigation.
Rao, known for her roles in Kannada and Tamil films, is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. Authorities are probing her frequent Dubai trips with her husband, Jatin, despite no apparent business or family connections there. It was discovered that she often received police escorts to avoid security checks at the airport.
Her recent international travels are under scrutiny, and her husband is expected to be questioned. Currently, Rao is under judicial custody for 14 days under the Customs Act of 1962 and is being held in a quarantine cell at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.