Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: The Kannada actress has been in DRI’s custody for over a week now. She was caught smuggling 14.2 kg gold worth ₹12.56 crore in Bengaluru, India, from Dubai. In the latest development in the case, the actress, a stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, revealed she learnt to hide gold from YouTube. During the questioning, she pleaded to do it for the first time and would never do illegal work ever again.

Ranya Rao reveals the identity of the person who instructed her

During the grilling session, DRI questioned Ranya about her frequent foreign travels, to which the actress replied that she travelled for photography and real estate business. “I have visited Europe, America, Africa, and the Middle East multiple times,” she said in her statement. When asked about her recent Dubai visit, Ranya said, “I received a call from a foreign phone number on March 1. I was instructed to go to Gate A at Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport. I was told to collect the gold at Dubai Airport and deliver it in Bengaluru. This was the first time I smuggled gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. I have never brought or purchased gold from Dubai before.”

When DRI asked the actress about the identity of the person, she shared of not entirely sure who called her. But revealed that the call had an African-American accent.

Details about the Dubai Airport encounter

“He told me he would be wearing a white gown at Dubai Airport. We agreed to meet at Gate A of Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport.” He handed over the gold bars after a security check. He left right after handing me the gold bars. I never met or saw him again. The man was around 6 feet tall and fair-skinned,” she recalled.

Ranya Rao details how she smuggled gold at the airport

When asked how she smuggled the gold, to this, she shared in detail that the person handed her gold bars in two plastic-covered packets. So she went to the restroom and attached the gold bars to her body and hid the some in jeans and shoes. She even bought crepe bandages and scissors at the airport. The actress told the officials, she learned this trick from YouTube.

DRI questioned Ranya Rao about the gold recipient in Bengaluru

The actress stated she was just instructed to deliver the gold bars to an unknown person. She was asked to go to the service road after the airport toll gate and keep the gold in an auto-rickshaw near the signal gate. However, she wasn’t given the auto-rickshaw’s number.

Ranya Rao pleads for mercy after being caught smuggling gold

Towards the end of the questioning, Ranya pleaded to be forgiven with a last chance. “Please let me go. Forgive me this one time and release me,” she said.

Meanwhile, based on data gathered from Ranya’s phone and laptop, DRI has tracked the syndicate members.