Betrayed, Framed, Jailed: Revisiting Bollywood Actor's UAE Ordeal Amid Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Row
Chrisann Pereira and Ranya Rao have both made headlines for their alleged involvement in international smuggling cases, however, their situations are worlds apart
Two Indian actresses, two smuggling allegations, but starkly different stories. Chrisann Pereira and Ranya Rao have both made headlines for their alleged involvement in international smuggling cases, however, their situations are worlds apart.
While Pereira was proven to be an innocent victim, Ranya Rao is now under investigation for alleged involvement in a large-scale gold smuggling operation. The two cases, though seemingly similar at first glance, highlight vastly different circumstances and legal proceedings.
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CHRISANN PEREIRA: A VICTIM OF DECEPTION
In April 2023, Bollywood actress Chrisann Pereira was apprehended at the Sharjah airport in the UAE after authorities discovered drugs hidden inside a trophy she was carrying. Known for her performance in Sadak 2, Pereira had travelled to Dubai under the impression that she was attending an audition for a Hollywood web series. Unfortunately, the supposed opportunity turned out to be an elaborate trap set up by Mumbai-based baker Anthony Paul, who planted drugs in the trophy she carried.
Subsequent investigations disclosed that Paul had orchestrated the entire scheme as an act of revenge against Pereira’s mother over a petty dispute. This disagreement reportedly revolved around financial issues and a long-standing animosity that Paul held against the Pereira family. What made the case even more shocking was the meticulous planning that went into framing her.
Paul, a neighbour of the Pereira family, carefully devised the plot to frame Chrisann by gaining her trust and convincing her that the audition was genuine. He handed her the trophy, claiming it was a requirement for the supposed film role, ensuring that she would unknowingly transport the concealed contraband.
Paul and his accomplice, Rajesh Damodar, targeted at least four other individuals in similar drug-smuggling setups. Their modus operandi involved luring people with false promises of career opportunities or financial incentives, deceiving them into carrying drugs overseas. Their scheme was finally exposed after Pereira’s family and the Mumbai Police diligently pursued the case, leading to Paul’s arrest.
Upon her arrival in the UAE, Pereira found herself stranded with no contacts. When she sought help from the authorities, the concealed drugs were uncovered, resulting in her arrest. She spent months in a prison in Sharjah, enduring immense mental and emotional turmoil. It was only after sustained efforts from her family and intervention from Indian authorities that the truth came to light.
Mumbai Police uncovered evidence proving Anthony Paul had set her up, and after his arrest, Chrisann was finally released and allowed to return to India, clearing her name.
RANYA RAO: A WEB OF SMUGGLING ALLEGATIONS
Unlike Chrisann Pereira, who was an innocent pawn in a larger conspiracy, Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress, is now at the centre of a major gold smuggling investigation. On March 3, 2025, the actress was apprehended at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport for attempting to smuggle 14.8 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately Rs 12.56 crore.
Authorities revealed that Rao had made at least 30 trips to Dubai in the past year, allegedly transporting gold on each occasion. Further inquiries revealed that her smuggling network was not limited to Dubai; she had also travelled extensively to Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, raising suspicions that she was part of a well-organised international smuggling syndicate.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) reported that she had used sophisticated methods to conceal the contraband—hiding gold bars by taping them to her thighs and waist, and wearing custom-made belts and jackets with hidden compartments.
Further scrutiny of her activities uncovered links to airport security personnel, including a police constable named Basavaraj, who is alleged to have assisted her in evading security checks. Following her arrest, law enforcement officials conducted a search of her residence in Bengaluru, confiscating gold jewellery valued at Rs 2.06 crore and cash totalling Rs 2.67 crore, which brings the overall worth of the seized assets to Rs 17.29 crore.
Ranya Rao has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody following the arrest. Her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has distanced himself from her, stating that she lived separately and had no links to his professional career.
A TALE OF TWO CASES
The cases of Chrisann Pereira and Ranya Rao illustrate two vastly different narratives in the realm of international smuggling allegations. Pereira’s ordeal was a tragic case of deception, resulting in her unjust imprisonment before she was ultimately cleared of all charges.
In contrast, Rao’s situation paints a far more complex picture. It has been revealed that Rao has admitted to the crime during her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). CNN-News18 has learnt that in her first statement to the DRI, Ranya Rao admitted that 17 pieces of gold bar were recovered from her possession.
The case, touted as one of the biggest gold seizures in Karnataka, has also brought increased scrutiny on Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri. Police have alleged that he frequently travelled with the actress to Dubai, from where she allegedly smuggled gold.
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