In recent developments in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, the actress confessed to purchasing the gold from Dubai late last year. In the arrest memo obtained by News18, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) reported that Rao admitted to purchasing gold from the emirate on two occasions, on November 13 and December 20. The Kannada actress also stated that she had plans to travel to Switzerland’s Geneva, with the gold, but her travel records show she travelled to India instead.
Rao further acknowledged travelling to India from Dubai twice prior to her arrest on the night of March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, during her supposed third attempt. The DRI has accused her of evading customs duty worth Rs 4.83 crore. Last week, Rao admitted to carrying 17 gold bars on her person, concealed within her jacket, hidden in her belt, and strapped to her thighs.
Rao’s arrest earlier this month was the result of her frequent round trips to Dubai being flagged by the DRI. Since the intelligence agency received a tip-off about her activities, officials were able to detain her just as she exited the airport, and found her in possession of 14.2kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore. The investigation extended to her Bengaluru abode, where she resides with her architect husband Jatin Hukkeri, where police uncovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
Her prior arrivals at the Bengaluru airport saw her escorted by an officer who assisted her in bypassing security, avoiding customs duty and mandatory checks. The DRI believes that Rao is part of a larger gold smuggling syndicate. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a probe, reviewing wedding footage from her marriage to Hukkeri last November, analysing the guest list, and investigating who presented the couple with expensive gifts.
