Bengaluru: Two days after Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru airport with over 14 kg of gold, it has emerged upon investigation that she misused state protocol to try to evade security check by the authorities, ThePrint has learnt.
Rao was caught on 3 March at Bengaluru International airport when she had landed from Dubai on an Emirates flight with 14.2 kg of gold, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, “ingeniously concealed on person”, according to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
Further probe led to discovery of nearly Rs 5 crore worth of gold and cash at her residence in Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road area, taking the total seizure in the high-profile gold smuggling case to Rs 17.29 crore, the agency said Wednesday.
Though it is yet to be determined how many times she travelled abroad, a DRI official said, on the condition of anonymity, that she had done so “many times” over the last six-seven months, attracting the agency’s attention, which led to her arrest on 3 March.
“We cannot confirm that she misused state protocol every other time, but this time she did so for sure. We are assuming that she did it other times, too,” the official said.
The gold was intricately stitched inside her jacket, according to those aware of the developments. The frisking led to the discovery of the gold bars.
The actress is the step-daughter of senior Indian Police Service officer, K. Ramachandra Rao, serving currently as the Chairman & Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing corporation. He told Times of India after her arrest that he had had no contact with her for over four months now, and that he was unaware of her or her husband’s business dealings. He could not be reached by ThePrint for a comment Wednesday.
The DRI official further said that the police have a protocol unit stationed at the airport that fast-tracks the passport check and immigration process upon a VIP request.
“It is about the facilitation from passport, immigration… there is a huge queue at immigration. The main facilitation is for that, and then they come through the green channel. Normally, the protocol officer is the one who picks up the luggage and gives the quickest clearance. The protocol officer goes to expedite these processes,” the official explained.
He added that so far, there is no evidence to suggest that either Rao’s step-father or any state protocol officer knew about her activities. State protocol officers follow up on any requests made to them and are unlikely to know of any family discord, he said.
According to another official, previously stationed at Bengaluru airport, the state protocol follows orders since there are several such requests for VVIP movements.
“When such VVIPs come… they say the DG’s daughter is arriving and they are escorted by the state protocol officers, who have a permanent office at the airport. Since they come with reference, they are not frisked unless there is reasonable suspicion to do so.”
Another customs official, stationed at Bengaluru airport, said, “When there is a reference or state protocol person accompanying the VVIP, the security personnel do not frisk the person even when the metal detector beeps. Ranya’s case was possibly the same.”
The official said that she was a celebrity and the daughter of a police official, which she may have used to avoid suspicion.
‘Invisible presence, visible results’
According to DRI data, in 2023, there was an over 20 percent year-on-year surge in gold smuggling cases till October. There were 4,798 cases involving seizure of 3,917 kg of gold that year, a significant increase from 3,982 cases involving 3,502 kg of gold in 2022, ThePrint had previously reported.
The DRI official said that many such cases are on the agency’s radar.
The agency moves from “culprit to culprit”, the DRI official further said. “There are internal processes on how many days it takes for the intelligence to develop. At DRI, we are known for invisible presence and visible results.”
The customs official quoted above told ThePrint that DRI has the power to even tap the calls of other central agency officials to check for involvement with smugglers. Gold is among the most smuggled commodities, the official said.
Though Karnataka has not seen the biggest number of gold smuggling cases, it has seen a rise. In 2023 till October, the state saw 237 cases with a cumulative seizure of 139.41 kg of gold. This was significantly higher than the seizure of 97.2 kg in 2022 in 145 cases, according to a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on 12 December, 2023.
According to ThePrint’s previous report, the various ways gold has been smuggled into the country include gold dust concealed in pen refills, sanitary pads, diapers, toupes, suitcase wheels, or electronic parts, and gold capsules swallowed or concealed in rectums.
Those aware of the procedure in such cases said that Rao can be tried only on the basis of material evidence.
“She may have done it (smuggling) for a long time, but unless there is more material evidence, she will be investigated only for the 14.2 kg for now,” the second official said.
Further investigations will involve checking her bank account, expenditure, large transactions, or any evidence that may have links to similar activities.
The official added that the actress will attract provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, under which she may have to serve a minimum of five years in prison.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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