Ranya Rao, a 34-year-old Kannada actress and stepdaughter of Karnataka IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, is set to be released from prison following her one-year detention under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (Cofeposa) Act. She was arrested in March 2025 for allegedly smuggling over 100 kg of gold valued at ₹102 crore (approximately $12.3 million USD) from Dubai to Bengaluru. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) detained her after intercepting her at Bengaluru International Airport on March 3, 2025, where she was found concealing 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore (approximately $1.5 million USD). The DRI's investigations revealed that Rao was part of a larger smuggling syndicate, with her associates including Telugu actor Tarun Konduru and hawala dealer Sahil Sakariya Jain. Although Rao and her associates are set to be released, they still face trial proceedings for their alleged involvement in smuggling activities. The DRI has filed a prosecution complaint seeking seven years of imprisonment under the Customs Act for their actions. The case has drawn attention due to Ramachandra Rao's position and subsequent questioning regarding his knowledge of the smuggling racket.