Ranya Rao Sent To 3-Day DRI Custody In Gold Smuggling Case
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This comes a day after Ranya Rao admitted the recovery of gold during her statement to the DRI.
Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X)
Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been sent to three days of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) custody in connection with the gold smuggling case. The Economic Offenses Court, presided over by Justice Vishwanath C. Gowdar, issued the order on Friday.
This comes a day after the actress admitted the recovery of gold during her statement to the DRI. On Friday afternoon, CNN-News18 learnt that in her first statement to the DRI, Ranya Rao admitted that 17 pieces of gold bar were recovered from her possession. She also revealed that she not only travelled to Dubai but Europe, America and the Middle East also. However, she refused to share any further details and asked the authorities to allow her to rest.
Rao, the stepdaughter of Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao, was under the radar of authorities due to frequent travel to Dubai. She allegedly travelled to the city 30 times over the past year, and four times in 15 days, bringing back kilos of gold each time.
Following her arrest, the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her Bengaluru home during raids. She has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody following the arrest.
The case, touted as one of the biggest gold seizures in Karnataka, has also brought increased scrutiny on Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri. Police have alleged that he frequently travelled with the actress to Dubai, from where she allegedly smuggled gold.
Hukkeri married Ranya Rao in a high-profile marriage around four months ago at Taj West End, after which they settled into a high-end apartment in Bengaluru’s upscale Lavelle Road. Hukkeri is an architect by profession, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Interior Design from RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru. He pursued further studies at the Royal College of Art – Executive Education, London, specialising in Disruptive Market Innovation.