In a shocking revelation linked to actor Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case, a police officer at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has disclosed that she was repeatedly granted VIP treatment to bypass security checks. This special privilege was reportedly arranged by her stepfather, senior IPS officer DGP K Ramachandra Rao, according to a Deccan Herald report.
Ranya was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 12.56 crore. During the investigation, authorities discovered that she had made frequent trips to Dubai, which had already caught the attention of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Officials had been monitoring her movements and suspected her of following a common smuggling pattern. Upon her latest return from Dubai, she was intercepted at the airport, and authorities recovered 12 gold bars of foreign origin from her possession.
A key development in the case came when airport head constable Basappa Billur, also known as Basavaraj, admitted to the DRI that he had personally assisted Ranya in avoiding regular security screenings.
He further claimed that he had been repeatedly instructed to facilitate the movement of family members of top police officials. Notably, he alleged that he received direct orders from DGP Ramachandra Rao to ensure hassle-free passage for his relatives, including Ranya.
The investigation also revealed that, on the day of her arrest, Ranya contacted Basavaraj at around 6:20 pm, requesting VIP protocol for her arrival. Following her request, he met her upon deplaning and escorted her through the airport’s Green Channel, which is designated for passengers who have nothing to declare. He also admitted to extending similar privileges to her three or four times before, although he could not recall the exact dates.
Authorities are now looking into the role of those who helped her evade checks, as the investigation into this high-profile gold smuggling case continues.