DRI seizes Rs 2.7 crore cash, Rs 2 crore gold from Ranya's house

Bengaluru: In further trouble for Kannada film actor Ranya Rao, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said it searched the actor’s house in an upscale Bengaluru locality and seized Rs 2.67 crore in cash and gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore.

Ranya, 33, was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on Monday after flying in from Dubai by an Emirates flight. The DRI said it had received a tip-off that she was smuggling gold. A subsequent search revealed that she was carrying foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore, according to the DRI.

“Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on person. The contraband, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” the DRI said.

The DRI later searched her house on Lavelle Road, central Bengaluru, where she resides with her husband and seized additional gold and cash.

“The total seizure in the case stands at Rs. 17.29 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks. The haul of 14.2 kg is one of the biggest seizures of gold at the Bengaluru airport in recent times,” the DRI said.

Ranya has been remanded in judicial custody, the DRI said. She is the daughter of K Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police, Karnataka Police Housing Corporation.

Ramachandra Rao did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

A senior police source said that the operation was conducted by Delhi’s DRI team.

The source further said that the DRI had been keeping tabs on potential gold smuggling rackets at the airport and detected a “pattern” in Ranya’s frequent trips to Dubai. DRI officials noticed that she was dressed in an unusual manner during the inward trip, the source said.

Speaking to reporters, Home Minister G Parameshwara said: “I won’t speculate as I don’t know much about the incident. The operation was carried out by a central agency. However, an arrest has been made. I have also discussed it with our Director General and Inspector General of Police.”