Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, March 8: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an investigation into the sensational case of gold smuggling involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, the step-daughter of a senior serving IPS officer in Karnataka, sources said on Saturday.
The CBI has registered an FIR against Ranya Rao based on inputs from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The authorities suspect the involvement of an international syndicate in the gold smuggling operation, and the DRI has conveyed to the court that the case concerns national security. Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, the DRI has refrained from disclosing further details in open court.
Ranya Rao is currently in the custody of the DRI and is being interrogated. The CBI has already commenced investigations in both Mumbai and Bengaluru, according to sources.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that Ranya Rao was present at the wedding of her step-brother, the son of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao, in Bengaluru in February. A video from the event shows her participating in the ceremony without hesitation.
However, IPS officer Ramachandra Rao stated that since Ranya's marriage in 2024, she had distanced herself from the family. "She stopped visiting the family home, and we were not given any opportunity to visit her new home. There has been a clear and definitive separation between us and them," DGP Rao said.
Further investigations have revealed that Ranya Rao is listed as a frequent traveller by the Immigration department. She travelled to Dubai on December 24, 2024, returning on December 27, and to the United States on January 18, returning on January 25. Between February 2 and March 3, she made five visits to Dubai. These frequent international trips have led authorities to believe that an international smuggling syndicate may be involved.
According to sources, considering the vast quantities of cash and gold involved, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to take up the investigation as well.
In her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on the day of her arrest, Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardini Ranya, claimed to be a freelancer in the real estate sector in Dubai and confessed to smuggling 17 bars of gold.
The DRI arrested her after seizing 14.8 kg of gold at the Bengaluru International Airport on Monday night. In addition, Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold and Rs 2.67 crore in cash were seized from her flat on Lavelle Road, which she reportedly rents for Rs 4.5 lakh per month.
Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, responding to the shocking developments, stated on Thursday that he was devastated by the news and had no prior knowledge of his step-daughter's involvement in such criminal activities.
The case has raised serious concerns, with investigations ongoing into the extent of the smuggling operation and the involvement of potential international criminal syndicates.