Bengaluru, March 13 —The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation into the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, with raids underway in Bengaluru.
The probe follows a request from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which arrested Rao on March 3 at Bengaluru Airport with 14 kg of gold strapped to her body.
According to ANI, the DRI has also sought assistance from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has now registered an FIR based on a complaint from Additional Director Abhishek Chandra Gupta.
Gupta’s complaint mentioned the possibility of an international smuggling network linked to Dubai, citing the arrest of two foreign nationals at Mumbai Airport on March 6 with 21.28 kg of gold.
‘First Time,’ Says Rao
Rao claimed during questioning that this was her first attempt at gold smuggling and that she was following instructions from unidentified callers.
She revealed learning smuggling techniques through YouTube videos, India Today reported.
The actor is the stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao.
Karnataka Withdraws CID Probe
The Karnataka government initially ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to examine potential lapses by police at Bengaluru Airport. However, the decision was reversed on Wednesday.
Minister Priyank Kharge, addressing the move, said, “The CBI and DRI are investigating the case. The opposition accused us of trying to scuttle the probe, but we work independently and transparently.
Karnataka government doesn’t act under pressure or criticism from the opposition,” ANI quoted him as saying.
