Kannada actress Ranya Rao arrested at Bengaluru Airport for possessing 14.8 kg of gold
Bengaluru, Mar 4 (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Bengaluru International Airport after she was found in possession of 14.8 kg of gold, officials said on Tuesday.
Following her arrest on Monday night, she was presented before an economic offences court, which remanded her to 14 days in judicial custody, they added.
According to officials, Rao had arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and had been under surveillance due to her frequent international travel.
Investigators revealed that she had allegedly smuggled the gold by wearing a significant portion of it and concealing gold bars in her clothing.
Authorities grew suspicious after noticing that she had travelled to Dubai four times in 15 days, prompting a targeted operation upon her return.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the actress may have attempted to use her connections to bypass customs checks.
Reports indicate that upon landing, she allegedly claimed to be the daughter of Karnataka's Director General of Police and contacted local police personnel to escort her home.
Officials are now probing whether any law enforcement officers, including her IPS relative, were aware of her activities or were misled into assisting her. After her arrest, Rao was taken to the DRI headquarters in Bengaluru's HBR Layout for questioning.
Authorities are investigating whether she was acting alone or was part of a larger smuggling network operating between Dubai and India.
Rao, known for her role opposite Kannada superstar Sudeep in 'Maanikya' (2014), has also appeared in a few other South Indian films.
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19-year-old woman raped by 5 men, including driver of police vehicle, in Chhattisgarh; 2 detained
Korba (Chhattisgarh)(PTI): A 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped by five men, including the driver of police's emergency response service vehicle, in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, police said on Saturday.
Two accused, including the driver of Dial 112 police helpline vehicle, have been taken into custody, they said.
The incident took place on January 8 night under the Bankimongra police station limits when one of the five accused known to the victim called her, a police official here said.
The accused took the girl to a deserted house in Bankimongra, where the driver and four others allegedly took turns to rape her, he said.
After the incident, the accused fled the spot, leaving the victim in an unconscious condition. The victim later managed to reach her home and narrated the ordeal to her family members, who immediately took her to the medical college hospital and later informed the police, he said.
The case was initially registered as a zero FIR at the Civil Lines police station on Friday and later transferred to Bankimongra police station for investigation, he said.
Korba Superintendent of Police Siddharth Tiwari, two accused, including the private driver of 'Dial 112' service have been detained in the case and efforts are on to trace three other accused.
