The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s arrest memo revealed details of the evidence against Kannada actor Ranya Rao in the gold smuggling case. The memo listed and detailed the events and Ranya’s voluntary statements given at the DRI office on March 4, a day after her arrest.
Although she said she didn’t have anything to declare while crossing the green channel, the metal detector flagged something on her person, the memo stated.
The memo also revealed that she failed to provide proof of purchase or declaration for the recovered gold. The arrest memo states that DRI officers intercepted Ranya at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), acting on specific intelligence, upon her arrival on Emirates Flight EK 566 from Dubai on March 3, 2025, at 6.30 pm.
“Attempting to pass through the Green Channel, she denied carrying any dutiable goods, gold, or contraband. However, a metal detector alerted officers to the presence of concealed items on her person,” the memo read.
A green channel at an airport is a customs lane for passengers who do not have any dutiable (taxable) or prohibited goods to declare. It is meant for travellers carrying only personal items that do not require customs clearance.
If the traveller has dutiable or prohibited goods, the person must go through the Red Channel and declare them to customs officers. Customs will check the items, calculate any applicable duty (tax), and allow passage only after paying the appropriate duty.
However, a thorough personal search revealed that she had wrapped gold bars around her waist and calves with bandages and tissues and hidden additional gold bars and cut pieces in her shoes and front pockets.
The recovered gold was confirmed to be 24-karat and weighed 14.2 kg, valued at more than Rs 12.56 crore.
“A government-approved valuer certified the purity and value, and the items were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” the memo read.
