Bengaluru: Days after Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru Airport in connection with an alleged gold smuggling case, it has now been confirmed that she has admitted to the crime during her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Sources from CNN-News18 have learned that in her initial statement, Rao acknowledged that 17 gold bars were recovered from her possession.
Further investigations revealed that the actress had traveled not only to Dubai but also to Europe, America, and the Middle East. However, she declined to provide additional details, requesting time to rest. Following her arrest, the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence conducted raids at her residence, seizing gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. She has since been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
The case, regarded as one of the largest gold smuggling busts in Karnataka, has also brought increased scrutiny on Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri. Authorities allege that Hukkeri frequently accompanied her on trips to Dubai, where the illicit gold transactions reportedly took place.
Hukkeri, an architect by profession, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Interior Design from RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru. He furthered his studies at the Royal College of Art – Executive Education, London, specializing in Disruptive Market Innovation. The couple married in a high-profile ceremony at the Taj West End approximately four months ago and later moved into a luxury apartment on Lavelle Road, one of Bengaluru’s most upscale neighborhoods.
Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation), had been under the authorities' watch due to her frequent travel to Dubai. Investigators revealed that she had made nearly 30 trips to the city in the past year, including four visits in just 15 days, allegedly smuggling substantial quantities of gold each time.
The case continues to unfold as authorities probe further into the smuggling network and potential accomplices involved.
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