Media365
Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on Monday night after she was found in possession of 14.8 kg of gold, officials told PTI. After the arrest, the actress was presented before an economic offences court. Officials told PTI that Rao arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and had been under surveillance due to her frequent international trips. The arrest was made by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). In this surprising turn of events, not many know that she debuted opposite to superstar Kichcha Sudeep in 2014.
Ranya Rao was born in 1980 in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, studied engineering at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru before stepping into the film industry. There is not much detail about her personal life, however, there are a few reports that stated she had married Jatin Hukkeri, an architect known for designing pubs and microbreweries, four months ago.
As per the sources, Kannada actress is a close relative of senior IPS officer from Karnataka, K. Ramachandra Rao. K. However, some reports claim Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of him.
Ranya Rao debuted in 2014 with the Kannada film Maanikya, directed by and starring Kichcha Sudeep. In the movie, she played Manasa, a wealthy young woman and the protagonist’s love interest.
In 2016, Ranya entered Tamil cinema with Wagah, a romantic drama where she acted opposite Vikram Prabhu. She returned to Kannada films in 2017 with Pataki, a comedy in which she portrayed Sangeetha, a journalist and the love interest of Ganesh’s character.
After her arrest, officials interrogated her at the DRI headquarters in HBR Layout and conducted a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. She is reportedly a close relative of IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who serves in Karnataka. Alongside the gold, authorities seized a significant amount of cash.
Following Rao’s arrest, the DRI conducted a detailed search of the actress’ flat at Nandavani Mansion on Lavelli Road. Over five officials spent several hours inspecting the property, where they discovered ₹2.5 crore. The team later removed three large boxes from the residence.
The actress, known for her role alongside Kiccha Sudeep in Maanikya, may face further scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Investigators are working to determine whether she acted alone or was part of a larger smuggling network.
