South Indian actress Rania Rao has been arrested for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth $1.47 million) through Bengaluru’s international airport, sparking a high-profile investigation.
Indian media reported that officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) received a tip-off about Rao’s arrival from Dubai.
Upon her arrival on 3 March, she was stopped at the airport, where officials found 14 gold bars strapped to her thighs using tape and bandages.
Initial reports suggested that the gold was hidden in her jacket, but DRI later confirmed it was directly attached to her body. Rao reportedly confessed to the smuggling operation during questioning.
The case took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that the 33-year-old actress is the stepdaughter of a senior police officer holding the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in Karnataka.
This has raised concerns over potential high-level connections within smuggling networks.
Authorities are now investigating whether Rao was operating alone or if she was working for a larger smuggling syndicate. Officials are also probing the intended recipients of the smuggled gold.
According to reports, Rao had travelled to Dubai 27 times in the past year, prompting DRI to place her under surveillance before making the arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities focusing on uncovering the full extent of the smuggling operation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ