A Bengaluru court denies bail to actress Ranya Rao, citing her frequent travels to Dubai and national security concerns amid her involvement in a gold smuggling case
Actress Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru International Airport after arriving from Dubai with 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore strapped to her body. The arrest was based on intelligence gathered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), reported indianexpress.com.
Frequent Dubai Travels Raise Red Flags
In a significant ruling, a special court in Bengaluru has denied bail to Ranya Rao in connection with her involvement in gold smuggling. The court highlighted her 27 visits to Dubai since January 2025 as well as her possession of a UAE Resident Identity Card as factors that raised national security concerns.
These elements, alongside her role in the illegal gold smuggling operation, were considered enough to deny bail and emphasize the seriousness of the case
A History of Suspicious Activities
The actress’s arrest comes after authorities had been investigating a large-scale gold smuggling network operating through Dubai. Rao’s actions raised suspicion, especially considering her frequent international travel and connections abroad, which were believed to be linked to the smuggling of gold into India. The 14.2 kg of gold seized from her possession was concealed in a manner designed to evade detection, marking a major bust in the ongoing crackdown on illicit gold trade.
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