Wed Mar 05 07:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Kannada Actress Arrested at Bengaluru Airport for Smuggling Gold Worth ₹17 Crore
**Bengaluru, India** – Kannada film actress Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on Monday for allegedly smuggling gold worth ₹17.29 crore. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted Rao and two associates just before they cleared security after arriving on an Emirates flight from Dubai.
Authorities seized 14.2 kg of gold bars, ingeniously concealed on Rao’s person, valued at ₹12.56 crore. A subsequent search of Rao’s Lavelle Road residence yielded an additional ₹2.06 crore worth of gold jewelry and ₹2.67 crore in Indian currency. The total seizure represents one of the largest gold hauls at Bengaluru airport in recent times.
Rao, who began her acting career in 2014 with the Kannada film *Maanikya*, has reportedly made frequent short trips to Gulf countries, raising DRI suspicions. She is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer. The DRI has arrested Rao under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and she has been remanded to judicial custody. The agency stated that the operation is a significant blow to organized gold smuggling networks.
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