BENGALURU: Following the actress Ranya Rao’s arrest in a gold smuggling case, the Union Home ministry has issued a warning to the state police. The department has expressed concern over the misuse of protocol officers by police personnel, which allowed Ranya to smuggle gold.
The Union Home ministry has issued a warning as a protocol official used to escort Ranya Rao out of the airport. Protocol officials are escorting all and sundry while those who are required to follow protocol are being ignored. Due to this, there is a possibility that a lot of illegality is going on. Thus, it has been directed that no protocol staff working at the airport should be involved in this way and the police should be careful about this, the ministry said.
Meanwhile Ranya’s lawyers filed a bail application and a hearing will be held at 3 pm on Thursday in the Economic Offences Court.
The case of actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested for gold smuggling, has revealed more shocking details. Initially, it was thought that Ranya had travelled to Dubai only once or twice. However, investigations have revealed that she had made at least 40 trips to Dubai.
Ranya was arrested when she returned from Dubai on March 3. She had hidden 14 gold biscuits, weighing 1 kg, in her thighs using gum and tape. Ranya had also used cramp bandages to avoid detection by scanners.
During interrogation, Ranya claimed she was a police officer’s daughter and tried to influence the authorities. However, the DRI officials were not convinced and secured her from the airport.
Investigations revealed that Ranya had made multiple trips to Dubai and Malaysia, raising suspicions about her activities. The DRI officials are investigating whether Ranya was involved in smuggling gold on behalf of other officials, politiciansand businessmen.
Ranya Rao got married to Jatin Hukkeri, an architect from Belagavi, as his third wife three months ago. The wedding ceremony was held at a private hotel in the city. After the wedding, the couple shifted to a luxurious house on Lavelle Road, which was previously occupied by the children of a former chief minister.
Ranya’s real name is Harshavardhini Yajnesh. She had changed her name to Ranya Rao for her film career, believing that a name starting with ‘R’ would bring her good luck in Sandalwood. The actress, known for her roles in films like ‘Maanikya’ and ‘Pataki,’ was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru on the evening of March 3, 2025.
Actress Ranya Rao was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. Ranya, who is the stepdaughter of DGP Dr K Ramachandra Rao, was produced before a special court judge for financial offenses on the evening of March 4. Following the hearing, the judge ordered that she be sent to judicial custody until March 18, 2025.
According to DRI officials, Ranya had arrived in Bengaluru from Dubai on an Emirates flight. The DRI team had been tipped off about her involvement in gold smuggling, and they had stationed themselves at the airport two hours prior to her arrival. After her flight landed around 7 pm, she was arrested and taken into custody.
Before being transferred to judicial custody, Ranya underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During questioning, she claimed that her visit to Dubai was for business purposes. However, DRI officials allege that she was in possession of gold, which was being smuggled into India illegally.
The DRI officials found 14.8 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore in her possession. Further investigation led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her residence in Bengaluru. The gold found in her possession weighed a total of 14.8 kilograms, a significant amount that has raised concerns over the extent of the smuggling operation.
This is considered one of the biggest gold smuggling cases at the Bengaluru airport, with a total seizure worth Rs 17.29 crore. Ranya’s father, Ramachandra Rao, a senior IPS officer, expressed shock over the incident and stated that the law will take its course. At present, Ranya remains in judicial custody as the DRI continues its investigation into the case.
