Bengaluru, March 13 -- 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.

According to a memo submitted to a special court in Bengaluru on Monday, the DRI alleged that Rao had travelled from Dubai to India twice before her arrest -- first on January 22 and then again on February 10. The agency said that during these visits, the actor smuggled at least 17 gold bars by concealing them in her jacket and belt, and strapped to her thighs.

"Contrary to her voluntary statements, the Dubai Customs declarations -- dated November 12, 2024, and December 20, 2024 ...