Days after Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru Airport in connection with an alleged gold smuggling case, new revelations indicate that she has confessed to the crime in her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). A news portal has learned that in her initial testimony, Rao admitted that 17 gold bars were recovered from her possession.
Further disclosures from Rao indicate that her travels extended beyond Dubai to Europe, America, and the Middle East. However, she refused to provide additional details and requested authorities to allow her to rest. The actress, who is the stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation), had been under surveillance due to her frequent visits to Dubai. Reports suggest that she made as many as 30 trips to the city over the past year, including four in just 15 days, allegedly smuggling kilos of gold each time.
Following her arrest, the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence conducted raids at her residence, uncovering gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. She has since been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
Regarded as one of the largest gold smuggling cases in Karnataka, the investigation has also drawn attention to Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri. Authorities allege that Hukkeri frequently accompanied the actress on her trips to Dubai, from where she is believed to have smuggled gold.
Hukkeri, who married Ranya Rao in a lavish wedding at Taj West End just four months ago, resides with her in a luxury apartment on Bengaluru’s upscale Lavelle Road. An architect by profession, Hukkeri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Interior Design from RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru. He further pursued studies at the Royal College of Art – Executive Education in London, specializing in Disruptive Market Innovation.
