Ranya Rao made 27 Dubai trips, Actor made 27 Dubai trips

Kannada actor Ranya Rao, arrested after 14 kg gold bars worth Rs 14.56 crore were seized from her at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, visited Dubai 27 times in a year. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have said the 14.2 kg haul is one of the largest gold seizures at the Bengaluru airport in recent times. According to the agency, the gold bars were smuggled into the airport and handed over to her before she concealed them on her body.Officials suspect that she was not merely a carrier but had a deeper role in the smuggling network.  
DRI officers searched her residence on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, where she lives with her husband. The search led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore, the DRI said in a statement.She had allegedly smuggled the gold by wearing a significant portion of it and concealing gold bars in her clothing, investigators revealed. Investigations into the case also suggest that she "used her connections" to bypass security at the airport. She was produced before a special court for financial offences, which remanded her to judicial custody till March 18. 
The agency further alleged that upon her arrival at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, a state protocol officer assisted in fast-tracking her immigration and luggage clearance. This arrangement reportedly allowed her to bypass frisking and metal detector checks unless security personnel raised suspicions.  The report further stated that the agency has recorded three statements from the actress, which allegedly contained incriminating details. The DRI noted that Rao has not denied most of the charges and that others were also involved, requiring further questioning.  

(State Correspondent)