Bengaluru: Film actor Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of Karnataka’s Director General of Police (Police Housing Corporation), Ramachandra Rao, was arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Monday evening at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru. She faces charges of gold smuggling after allegedly being found in possession of 14.8 kg of gold.
Ranya, a promising figure in the Indian film industry, hails from Chikmagalur, Karnataka. After completing her engineering degree at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru, she made the decision to pursue acting, marking her entry into cinema, as reported by the Times of India.
She made her acting debut in 2014 with the Kannada film Maanikya, directed by and starring the popular actor Sudeep. Ranya played the role of Manasa, a wealthy young woman who becomes the love interest of the film’s protagonist.
Expanding her career beyond Kannada cinema, Ranya made her Tamil debut in 2016 with Wagah, a romantic drama in which she starred opposite Vikram Prabhu. The following year, she returned to Kannada cinema with Pataki, a comedy in which she portrayed Sangeetha, a journalist who falls for the character played by actor Ganesh.
Legal action and investigation
Ranya was produced before a judge on Tuesday evening and remanded to 14-day judicial custody, following an order issued by a special court judge for financial offences. Before being taken into judicial custody, the actor underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital.
According to authorities, Ranya claimed that her trips to Dubai were for business purposes. However, DRI officials had received information regarding her potential involvement in smuggling. As a result, DRI officers were stationed at the airport two hours before her arrival on March 3. Ranya had flown in on an Emirates flight from Dubai and was apprehended at around 7 pm upon her arrival.
Suspicious activities and detailed probe
Authorities grew suspicious after noticing that Ranya had made four trips to Dubai within just 15 days, prompting a targeted operation upon her return. Early investigations suggest that she may have attempted to exploit her connections to bypass customs checks.
Reports indicate that upon her arrival, she allegedly claimed to be the daughter of Karnataka’s Director General of Police and contacted local police officers to arrange an escort home. Investigations are now underway to ascertain whether any law enforcement officials, including her IPS relative, were aware of her activities or were misled into assisting her.
After her arrest, Ranya was taken to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) office in Bengaluru’s HBR Layout for further questioning.
Authorities are also probing whether Ranya acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India.
The investigation into her activities continues, with officials working to uncover any further details regarding her possible involvement in illicit activities. (With inputs from Agencies)
