The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case on Saturday against gangs involved in smuggling gold into India through various airports. The move comes after the recent arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was caught carrying 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Two CBI teams have been dispatched to Mumbai and Bengaluru airports to collect further information. An image of Ranya with swollen eyes and bruises circulated on social media, sparking speculation of possible assault during custody. Reports suggest that certain privileges meant for high-ranking officials were exploited to facilitate gold smuggling. In response, the Karnataka government has decided to revise standard operating procedures, restricting protocol services strictly to officials themselves, rather than their family members or associates. The case has also brought renewed scrutiny to the misuse of airport protocol services, with reports suggesting that a protocol staffer was briefly detained by the DRI after Ranya’s arrest. However, sources indicate that he was later released after stating that he had been instructed to receive a senior officer’s daughter and was unaware of the smuggling attempt.