Bengaluru/IBNS: Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold, strapped 14 gold bars each weighing 1 kg to evade detection at the airport, media reports said.

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 actress, who is the step-daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, strapped the gold bars with tape and bandages, The Indian Express reported.

"Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on (her) person," said the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) as quoted by the daily

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

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.

Investigators found that she had visited Dubai four times in just 15 days, raising suspicions of smuggling activity.

Authorities then carried out a targeted operation upon her return, leading to her arrest.

Distancing himself from the entire case, Ramachandra Rao said, "The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career."

"Like any other father, I was shocked and devastated when it came to my notice through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. I don't want to say anything more," he said.

"She is not living with us... she is living separately with her husband. There must be some problem between them... (maybe) due to some family issues," the IPS officer said.