'Learned from YouTube videos': Ranya Rao's gold smuggling confession
What's the story
Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested recently for attempting to smuggle gold into Bengaluru, confessed to her crime during questioning by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
It was her first attempt at smuggling gold from Dubai to Bengaluru, Rao revealed, adding she learned how to hide gold bars by watching YouTube videos.
Rao was caught at Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8kg of gold worth ₹12.56cr, hidden in the form of gold biscuits strapped to her body.
Concealment method
Rao's method of concealing gold bars revealed
Rao revealed she bought crepe bandages and scissors from Dubai Airport before hiding the gold bars on her body inside a washroom.
"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 learned how to do this from YouTube videos," she told DRI officials.
Journey details
Rao's journey from Dubai to Bengaluru: A detailed account
Detailing her journey from Dubai to Bengaluru, Rao revealed she was given instructions for smuggling gold by an unknown caller.
"I received a call from a foreign phone number on March 1. I had been receiving calls from unknown foreign numbers for the past two weeks," she said.
She was allegedly told to collect the gold at Gate A, Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport and deliver it in Bengaluru.
Travel history
Rao's frequent travels and involvement in larger smuggling network
Rao also talked about her frequent travels due to her work in real estate and photography.
She claimed to have traveled to Europe, America, Africa, and the Middle East, on several occasions.
When asked if she was part of a bigger smuggling network, she replied, "I was instructed to collect the gold from one unknown person and deliver it to another."
Her stepfather, DGP K Ramachandra Rao, is also being probed.