Who is Jatin Hukkeri? Husband of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, arrested in Bengaluru gold smuggling case

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Jatin Hukkeri, husband of Kannada actor Ranya Rao, has come under the scanner of authorities following his wife's arrest in a gold smuggling case.

Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport. Following this, officials searched her residence, recovering gold jewellery valued at Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. According to police, Hukkeri regularly accompanied the actress to Dubai, where she reportedly smuggled gold.

Ranya married Hukkeri in a high-profile ceremony at Taj West End a few months ago. Now, Hukkeri has also come under more scrutiny as a result of the case, which is regarded as one of the largest gold seizures in Karnataka.

Who is Jatin Hukkeri?

Hukkeri graduated from Bengaluru's RV College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) in Architecture & Interior Design. Later, he earned his degree with a Disruptive Market Innovation concentration from the Royal College of Art's Executive Education program in London.

According to The Della Leaders Club (DLC), Jatin gained recognition for his creative designs in Bengaluru's restaurant industry before spreading his impact throughout India and London. He is the Founder & Creative Director of WDA & DECODE LLC and the founder of Craft CoDe.

His LinkedIn profile reads, "Experienced Architectural Designer with a demonstrated history of working in the Hospitality Architecture & planning industry. Skilled in Architectural Interiors, Custom Interiors, Recreation, Design, and Entertainment. Strong arts and design professional graduated from Royal College of Art, London.”

The Bengaluru cocktail bar and restaurant Hangover is one of Hukkeri's most well-known ventures. "It is path-breaking in terms of its spatial qualities, which are extremely simple for a bar," he remarked, describing its novel concept. The facility is open on both floors and on all sides, which greatly improves the user experience.

His client portfolio in Bengaluru includes Hangover, Bangalore XOOX, Brewmill, and Olive Beach, while he has also worked on projects in Delhi and Mumbai, such as Monkey Bar in Delhi and Gateway Taproom in Mumbai.

Hukkeri also leads WDA, a team of young, design-focused professionals, and has contributed to projects across the hospitality, retail, residential, and institutional sectors.

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. However, Ramachandra Rao has distanced himself from the case and expressed shock and devastation over her arrest.