Visually-impaired man caught at Bengaluru airport with ₹3.44 crore gold, days after Ranya Rao

The man was arrested on March 4, a day after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence held Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport for smuggling gold.

Published on: Mar 9, 2025, 09:37:05 IST

By HT News Desk

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A visually impaired man was held at Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling gold worth ₹3.44 crore from Dubai, customs officials told news agency PTI on Saturday.

A visually impaired man smuggled gold from Dubai to Bengaluru (File)

The arrest of the unidentified individual was made on March 4, a day after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence held Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport for smuggling gold.

Also Read: What Ranya Rao revealed in her ‘confession’: 17 gold bars, trips to Middle East

Customs officials stated that they had acted on a tip-off and intercepted the passenger when he arrived from Dubai.

Also Read: Bengaluru Airport tightens protocol rules after Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case

In a post on X, they revealed, “Upon inspection, 3,995.22 grams of gold worth ₹3,44,38,796, concealed under his shirt, was seized, and a smuggling case was registered.”

Ranya Rao gold smuggling case

On March 3, Ranya Rao was held at the Bengaluru airport for allegedly smuggling 17 gold bars worth around ₹12.56 crores, from Dubai to India, concealed on her body.

Also Read: After Ranya Rao's arrest, CBI to probe international gold smuggling ring

The case marks one of the largest contraband seizures at the Bengaluru airport in recent years. Rao was taken into custody and presented before a court who remanded her to judicial custody and granted the DRI three days to interrogate the accused.

Rao had made 27 trips to Dubai in the course of six months. Investigators also suspected that Ranya Rao was involved in a smuggling network, allegedly earning ₹4-5 lakh for each kilogram of gold she smuggled.

Following Ranya Rao's arrest, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has introduced stricter security protocols, particularly for individuals with influential backgrounds as it is believed that Rao used her stepfather's position as DGP to gain VIP access in airports allowing her to bypass regular security checks.

The Karnataka government has now decided that protocol privileges will be granted only to senior bureaucrats and will no longer extend to their family members or acquaintances, reported The Times of India.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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