Bengaluru Airport SOPs Under Review Amid Ranya Rao Controversy

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government decided to review the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at Bengaluru International Airport, restricting protocol staff services for family and friends of senior bureaucrats, following the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao. State Home Minister G Parameshwara confirmed the move, stating that stricter regulations would be implemented to prevent misuse of VIP privileges.

Government Orders SOP Review After Gold Smuggling Scandal

The decision came after Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested for smuggling gold bars worth ₹12 crore at Kempegowda International Airport. The Home Minister instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to handle the protocol review, which will be managed by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).

Actor Used VIP Connections to Bypass Security

The preliminary investigation revealed that 33-year-old Ranya Rao misused her family’s influence to bypass airport security checks and smuggle large quantities of gold from the UAE. She also allegedly requested police officers to escort her from the airport to avoid suspicion.

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According to a report, Ranya Rao made nearly 30 trips from Dubai in the past year, reportedly smuggling gold on each trip before being caught on March 3. Investigators also discovered that a police constable at the airport allegedly helped her evade security screenings.

Actor Confessed to Smuggling 17 Gold Bars

During interrogation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ranya Rao admitted to smuggling 17 gold bars and revealed that she had traveled to Europe, America, and the Middle East for similar operations.

She reportedly claimed she was "trapped" into smuggling by an unknown network, officials said. Authorities have now intensified the hunt for the masterminds behind the gold smuggling racket as Rao has been remanded to custody for three days.

Karnataka Government Promises Strict Action

Following the controversy, the Karnataka government assured stricter regulations at Bengaluru airport to prevent misuse of bureaucratic privileges. With protocol reforms underway, officials are focusing on strengthening security measures to curb such illegal activities.