Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Denies Gold Smuggling Charges, Claims She Was ‘Trapped’

Kannada actor Ranya Rao has denied any involvement in a gold smuggling racket during police questioning, instead claiming that she was "trapped."

According to a report by India Today, Rao broke down while being interrogated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and maintained that she was "innocent."

Photo Credit: https://x.com/RanyaRao

This follows an earlier conversation with her lawyers, in which she admitted struggling with sleepless nights and constant thoughts about her predicament.

"I keep thinking why I got involved in this. My mind keeps going back to that day at the airport. I cannot sleep. I am experiencing mental trauma," she reportedly told her lawyers in tears while being presented in court on Friday.

However, her latest statement contradicts her earlier admission to the DRI, where she acknowledged being caught with 17 gold bars. The official statement also mentioned that she had travelled not only to Dubai but also to Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.

As per the India Today report, investigators are urging Rao to disclose who allegedly trapped her in the smuggling operation, should her claim be true, as well as the circumstances that led to her involvement.

The case bears similarities to an incident in Chennai last year, where the wife of a Kerala-based software engineer was caught smuggling 12 kg of gold from Dubai. Later investigations revealed she had been blackmailed by a friend involved in gold smuggling. Authorities suspect that someone close to Ranya Rao may have similarly coerced her into participating.

The Ranya Rao Case

Ranya Rao was arrested on Monday at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport with gold bars worth ₹12 crore strapped to her body in a concealed belt.

She was remanded to DRI custody until 10th March, and authorities also seized cash and jewellery worth several crores from her residence.

Rao is the stepdaughter of senior Karnataka IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, who has distanced himself from the matter, stating that he has no knowledge of her activities as she resides with her husband, Jatin Hukkeri.

Meanwhile, the CBI has registered a case against international drug smugglers and has initiated its investigation.