Bengaluru/IBNS: Arrested Kannada actress Ranya Rao's associate has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with the gold smuggling case, media reports said.

The DRI on Sunday arrested Tarun Konduru Raju, who as per reports belongs to a prominent business family in Bengaluru.

Raju has been remanded to the DRI custody for five days.

The link between Raju and Ranya Rao was revealed by the data extracted from the mobile phone and laptop seized from the Kannada actress.

Ranya, who is the step-daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 at the Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs. 12.86 crore.

The DRI apprehended Ranya Rao after she arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and was immediately taken into custody.

Ranya, whose 14-day judicial custody expired on March 10, was on Monday remanded to DRI custody for another two weeks till March 24.

Ranya said in a confession that she was caught at the airport with 17 gold bars.

"I have travelled to Europe, America, and (the) Middle East and have visited Dubai, Saudi Arabia. I wish to state that I am tired at present as I did not get enough rest," she said as quoted by NDTV. 

Reports claim Ranya travelled to Dubai 27 times in the last year bringing her under the scanner of DRI.

A court handling economic offenses later remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days.

According to DRI sources, Rao had been under watch due to her frequent overseas trips, the report said.