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The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into Kannada actor Ranya Rao’s alleged misuse of protocol to bypass security checks while smuggling gold.
Actress Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai. (Photo: X)
The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into the alleged misuse of protocol and privileges by Kannada actor Ranya Rao while bypassing security checks while smuggling gold.
As per the government directive, the probe will be carried out by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta.
The order dated March 10 stated, “A report on how Ranya managed to bypass security checks at the airport, how she availed and misused privileges reserved for top officials, and whether there is any role of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation MD Ramachandra Rao has been asked to be submitted within a week.”
Top police officers, Karnataka secretaries, the Department of Personnel, and Administrative Reforms have been instructed to provide all necessary documents and assistance to the authorities concerned for the inquiry.
Actor Says She’s Emotionally Broken
Rao, who is accused of smuggling gold worth Rs 14.56 crore and was nabbed at Bengaluru Airport, on Monday broke down in the court and alleged that she is “traumatised and emotionally broken”. Rao claimed that she has been “verbally tortured and threatened” in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
Twists And Turns So Far: A Timeline
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which is probing the case, suspects that Kannada actor Ranya Rao has strong links in Dubai, who managed to smuggle the gold bars into the airport and then handed them over to her.
According to the agency, Rao wrapped the gold bars around her inner thighs, shin, and waist inside the airport in Dubai. She used tape and crepe bandage to wrap them around her body parts, they said. It suspects that she is not only a carrier, but is also involved in the nexus.
Upon landing at the Bengaluru International Airport, a state protocol officer would go to the immigration and pick up Rao’s luggage for fast-track security clearance. This way, she would skip frisking or going through metal detectors at the airport upon landing (unless security personnel are suspicious, people are not thoroughly scanned upon landing).
“It’s a clear case of protocol being misused,” said sources in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
The DRI further said the three recorded statements of the actor have incriminating details. It said she has not denied most of the charges. Others are also involved in the case and she needs to be questioned further on that, it added.
Rao’s mobile and laptop have been recovered, but the DRI is yet to gain access to them as they are locked. The actor also has bruise marks on her face, the agency said.
Who Is Ranya Rao And Why Was She Arrested?
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao.
She was under the radar because of her frequent travel to Dubai. In one year, she allegedly went to Dubai 30 times and four times in just 15 days. The authorities nabbed Rao at the Bengaluru airport when she was smuggling nearly 15kg of gold earlier this week.
After she was arrested, gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash was recovered from her home in Bengaluru by the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence during raids. Rao is married to Jatin Hukkeri, who was also frequently travelling to Dubai with the actress. This is one of Karnataka’s biggest gold seizures in history.
