Online crime tutorial? Ranya Rao reveals she took notes on smuggling gold from YouTube: Report

Actor Ranya Rao, arrested in a gold smuggling case, confessed during interrogation that it was the first time she had smuggled gold from Dubai. The Kannada actor also revealed that she received calls from unknown numbers and that she learnt to hide gold from YouTube videos.

“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, according to a report by India Today.

Rao also revealed during interrogation that she bought crepe bandages and scissors at the airport and attached the gold bars to her body in a restroom at the airport.

“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,” Rao told the intelligence officers,a according to India Today. 

Rao, stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao. Authorities have accused the Sandalwood actor of using her stepfather’s name and position to gain unauthorised access to VIP airport privileges meant for senior officials and to bypass security checks.

I learnt how to do this from YouTube videos.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has informed a Karnataka court that actor Ranya Rao, arrested in a gold smuggling case, was part of a smuggling syndicate and had illegally brought gold into the country on multiple occasions.

Gold bars worth  ₹12.56 crore were seized from Harshvardhini Ranya, alias Ranya Rao, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru earlier this month. A subsequent search of her home in Bengaluru’s Lavelle Road yielded gold jewellery worth  ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to  ₹2.67 crore.