Ranya Rao case: ED raids multiple locations in Karnataka

The Enforcement Directorate has joined the probe regarding the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao. The agency on Thursday raided few places in Bengaluru and some other places as part of a money laundering probe linked to the alleged gold smuggling racket in which Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested by the DRI in Karnataka. A case has been filed under the PML Act.  An FIR has been filed by the CBI in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, the report added. Gupta’s complaint highlights the possibility of smuggling nexus possibly operating from Dubai after two foreign nationals were also arrested with 21.28 kg of gold at Mumbai Airport on March 6, following Rao’s arrest on March 3, the ANI report said.
Meanwhile, Ranya Rao, who is in the custody of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), revealed during interrogation that it was the first time she smuggled gold from Dubai. The actor also revealed that she got calls from unknown numbers and claimed that she learnt to hide gold from YouTube videos.In her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Rao revealed that she had received an internet call and was asked to collect the gold from Gate A of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. The actor said the "unknown person" was six feet tall and had a wheatish complexion and a rough American accent. During the brief meeting, he took her to a corner and handed over the gold, she told the officers. The actor also revealed that she got calls from unknown numbers and claimed that she learnt to hide gold from YouTube videos. She attached the gold bars to her body in a restroom at the airport.
“I was instructed to collect the gold from an unknown person and deliver it to another unknown person in Bangaluru” Rao told the DRI, when questioned about a smuggling ring.In her statement, Rao also explained her frequent foreign travels. “I travelled for photography and real estate business. I have visited Europe, America, Africa, and the Middle East multiple times,” she said.Ms Rao was intercepted just a few steps away from the airport exit by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials after her frequent foreign travels raised suspicion. She was arrested after the gold bars were found in her possession. The actor had made 27 trips to Dubai in the last six months and four of those were within a span of just 15 days.

(State Correspondent)