Gold Smuggling
Ranya Rao shares how she received consignment at Dubai airport, learnt how to conceal gold bars on YouTube
Bengaluru/IBNS: Kannada actress Ranya Rao has detailed how she picked up the gold bars meant for smuggling at the Dubai International Airport and also revealed her meticulous plan to conceal the items, media reports said.
As per the documents detailing the authorities' objections to her bail request, Ranya had followed YouTube tutorials to learn how to conceal the gold bars in her clothes.
During the interrogation, Ranya shared she had received an internet call where she was instructed to pick the consignment from Gate A of Terminal 3 at the Dubai airport.
Ranya said she met a six-feet tall wheatish complexioned man with a rough American accent at the airport.
She was handed over two packets containing gold bars wrapped in "thick tarpaulin plastic type" material at a corner of the airport.
Ranya said she had already carried adhesive tape to hide the gold bars. She was carrying the cut pieces of the tape knowing scissors wouldn't be available at the airport.
After receiving the consignment, Ranya rushed to a nearby washroom and executed her plan to conceal the gold bars.
She had wrapped the 12 gold bars in her calf muscle and waist and kept the smaller pieces in shoes and pockets.
Ranya was through the Bengaluru airport security with the help of an officer who was involved in the scheme, said the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in the court.
But the DRI officials stopped him just a few steps away from the airport exit gate after her frequent foreign trips raised suspicion.
Ranya, who is the step-daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 at the airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs. 12.86 crore.
The DRI apprehended Ranya Rao after she arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and was immediately taken into custody.
Ranya, whose 14-day judicial custody expired on March 10, was on the same day remanded to DRI custody for another two weeks till March 24.
Reports claim Ranya travelled to Dubai 27 times in the last year bringing her under the scanner of DRI.
According to DRI sources, Rao had been under watch due to her frequent overseas trips, the report said.
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