Kannada Actor Ranya Rao Caught Smuggling ₹12.56 Crore Worth of Gold at Bengaluru Airport

Popular Kannada actor Ranya Rao was caught at Kempegowda International Airport with foreign-origin gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore, late Monday night. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), acting on a tip-off, arrested the actor upon her arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight.

High-Profile Links & Smuggling Operation

Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation DGP Ramachandra Rao, had been under DRI’s radar due to her frequent international travel despite no visible business connections abroad. Her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, a prominent architect, was also observed traveling with her on multiple occasions.

Officials found the gold hidden inside her jacket’s lining, with reports stating that she taped bars to her thighs and waist to avoid detection. Sources reveal she allegedly made 30 trips to Dubai in the past year, successfully smuggling gold multiple times.

Suspicious Travel Patterns & Arrest

Rao reportedly visited Dubai four times in just 15 days, triggering revenue intelligence suspicions. Each time she returned to Bengaluru, she was seen wearing large amounts of gold jewellery, prompting the DRI to place her under surveillance.

She allegedly managed to evade airport security checks with police escorts, raising further concerns about potential high-level collusion. Following her arrest, investigations are now underway to uncover the full extent of her gold smuggling network and any possible inside connections.