Bengaluru – The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has imposed a penalty of ₹102 crore on Kannada film actress Ranya Rao in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case.
Alongside her, three others involved in the case were fined more than ₹50 crore each. On Tuesday, DRI officials served a penalty notice running into nearly 2,500 pages to the actress and her associates, all of whom are lodged in Bengaluru Central Jail.
According to DRI sources, Rao was apprehended on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport while returning from Dubai. She was allegedly found in possession of 14.8 kilograms of smuggled gold.
Ranya Rao, who has acted in several Kannada films, is the step-daughter of senior police officer K. Ramachandra Rao, who holds the rank of Director General of Police (DGP).
The development has created a stir in Karnataka’s film and law enforcement circles, with the DRI maintaining that it will pursue the case to its full extent under customs and smuggling laws.
