Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 7: A Bengaluru court has handed over the custody of Kannada actress Ranya Rao to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case. The economic offences court also put her bail petition on hold, keeping it in abeyance.

The DRI, strongly opposing bail, argued that Ranya Rao’s custody was essential for a deeper probe into the smuggling syndicate, citing national security concerns. The court granted her custody from March 9 to 11, allowing investigators to examine the wider network involved.

Ranya Rao was arrested on Monday night at Bengaluru International Airport with 14.8 kg of gold. A follow-up raid at her Lavelle Road residence led to the seizure of Rs 2.06 cr in gold and Rs 2.67 cr in cash. The actress, reportedly paying Rs 4.5 lac in rent for her luxury flat, allegedly acted as a courier for the smuggling ring.

While sources claim she cited blackmail as her reason for transporting gold, authorities had been monitoring her due to her frequent trips to Dubai. The DRI maintains that further investigation is crucial to uncover the destination of the smuggled gold and the involvement of other players in the syndicate.