EFCC ARRAIGNS MAN FOR ALLEGED ₦55M FRAUD IN LAGOS. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.
Kannada film actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth over ₹12.56 crore from Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials acted on a tip-off and caught her when she arrived on an Emirates flight on Monday night. She was presented in an economic offences court, which sent her to 14 days of judicial custody. Rao is the stepdaughter of IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who is the Director General of Police (DGP) at the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.
Authorities had been keeping an eye on Ranya Rao because of her frequent international trips. She had traveled to Dubai four times in 15 days, raising suspicions of illegal activities. When she returned to India, officials conducted a targeted operation and found gold bars hidden in her clothing and jacket. Reports suggest that she also wore a large amount of gold to avoid detection. During questioning, Rao claimed she was blackmailed into smuggling the gold.
The police have also detained a constable named Basavaraju, who was with her at the airport. Investigators are looking into whether any law enforcement officers, including her IPS stepfather, knew about her actions or were misled into helping her. Authorities suspect that she may have used her connections to try and avoid customs checks. Reports also indicate that she contacted local police personnel to arrange an escort from the airport.
Following the arrest, Rao was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru for further questioning. Officials have also seized gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. She has been charged under the Customs Act, 1962, and investigators are now trying to find out if she was working alone or was part of a larger gold smuggling network between Dubai and India. The 14.2 kg gold haul is one of the biggest seizures at Bengaluru International Airport in recent years.
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