Ranya Rao Smuggling Case: Actor Describes Mysterious Man Who Gave Her Gold

Ranya Rao Smuggling Case: Towering over six feet, well-built, African-American accent and wheatish complexion — this is how gold smuggling suspect Ranya Rao described the man who handed over gold to her in Dubai before she was caught in Bengaluru.

Rao, 31, also told officials that the "mystery man handed her over the gold in Dubai".

According to Rao, she received a call on March 1, 2025, from an unknown foreign number, a common occurrence for her over the past two weeks. These calls, originating from VoIP networks, instructed her to collect gold bars at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3, Gate A, and deliver them to Bengaluru. Despite the unsettling nature of these calls, Rao admitted to not informing the police, citing privacy concerns.

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Elaborating on the Dubai Airport incident, Rao recounted her encounter with the unidentified caller. Describing him as having an “African-American accent", the caller, she said, instructed her to meet a “tall, well-built individual" wearing a white gown near the Espresso machine at the Terminal 3, Gate A dining lounge. After clearing security, this individual, whose identity remains unknown to Rao, handed her two tarpaulin-wrapped packages containing gold bars.

"This was the first time I smuggled gold from Dubai to Bengaluru. I have never brought or purchased gold from Dubai before," Rao said in a U-turn to her previous statements to DRI officials.

Ranya Rao, 31, has allegedly told her interrogators that she bought crepe bandages and scissors at the airport and attached the gold bars to her body in a restroom at the airport.

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"The gold was in two plastic-covered packets. I attached the gold bars to my body in the airport restroom. I hid the gold in my jeans and shoes. I learnt how to do this from YouTube videos."

The state government said that the CID probe - order was issued on Monday night - was being withdrawn as Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta is already probing the possible role of Ranya's stepfather, K Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-rank officer, in the case.

Ramachandra Rao is currently serving as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Gupta's inquiry will focus on the facts and circumstances leading to the misuse of protocol-related facilities and Rao's involvement in the case.

Besides, gold bars worth Rs 14 crore, officials seized gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from Ranya Rao's residence.

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