AP Weather: నైరుతి బంగాళాఖాతంలో బలపడిన తీవ్ర అల్పపీడనం

In a major operation at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) after 14.2 kg of gold bars, valued at approximately ₹14.56 crore, were seized. This led to the uncovering of a sophisticated gold smuggling network involving regular trips to Dubai. Authorities became suspicious of Rao due to her 27 trips to Dubai in a single year, prompting a closer investigation.

Ranya Rao, who is also known as the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was implicated in the smuggling operation. It was discovered that she was allegedly receiving commissions between ₹4 lakh and ₹5 lakh per kilogram of gold she smuggled from Dubai to Bengaluru. This lucrative illegal activity came to an abrupt halt following her arrest at the airport.

Following the arrest, the DRI conducted a detailed search of Rao’s residence on Lavelle Road, where she lives with her husband. The search resulted in the recovery of gold jewelry valued at ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. These findings provided further evidence of Rao’s involvement in the gold smuggling ring and highlighted the scale of the operation.

The case took a legal turn when the Customs department requested a four-day extension of Rao’s custody for further questioning. However, Rao’s legal team opposed the extension, arguing that the DRI had already conducted a comprehensive interrogation following her arrest and had no new information. The court is yet to decide on the custody extension.

This case sheds light on the complex operations behind gold smuggling, with frequent international travel being exploited for illegal gains. With Rao’s arrest, authorities aim to dismantle the smuggling network and curb the illegal influx of gold into India. The investigation continues as officials work to uncover the full extent of Rao’s involvement and potentially identify other members of the network.