Kannada film actress Ranya Rao was caught at Bengaluru International Airport on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.86 crore. Reports say she tried to hide 14 gold bars on her thighs using tape and bandages to avoid being detected by Customs officials.
Rao, 33, is the stepdaughter of a high-ranking police officer in Karnataka. She was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) after they learned she was arriving at the airport with the gold.
There were rumors that she might have hidden the gold in a jacket, but the DRI confirmed that the bars were discovered during a physical check. “Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were cleverly hidden on her person,” the DRI stated in their announcement about her arrest after she arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight.
Rao allegedly strapped 14 gold bars, each weighing 1 kg, to her thighs using tape and bandages, then wore pants to hide them, according to sources.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) called this “one of the biggest gold seizures at Bengaluru International Airport in recent times” and is investigating whether Rao has smuggled gold this way before.
Sources say her frequent trips to Dubai and Malaysia every 5 to 10 days raised suspicions with the DRI, leading to a tip-off about her carrying a large amount of gold on March 3.
She reportedly used VIP channels to leave the airport upon arriving on international flights, with a protocol official there to assist her and help her avoid the thorough checks that regular passengers face.
