Ranya Rao, a 33-year-old actress and stepdaughter of a senior police officer, has been remanded in custody until March 10 due to her alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is investigating her activities, identifying her as part of a smuggling network. The case has prompted discussions about potential changes in policy regarding the misuse of protocol.
Ranya Rao, the 33-year-old actress and stepdaughter of senior police officer Ramachandra Rao, was remanded into the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) until March 10, following her alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case. She faces charges regarding the smuggling of 14.2 kilograms of gold valued at approximately Rs 14.5 crore at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. The DRI requested her custodial interrogation to investigate the gold’s source and intended destination, citing potential national security threats associated with her activities.
The special court for economic offenses instructed Ms. Rao to cooperate with the investigation and allowed her a daily 30-minute consultation with her legal counsel. It emphasized the necessity for the DRI to provide her with basic facilities as mandated by Supreme Court guidelines and ordered that she not be threatened during custody. Following the court’s ruling, Ms. Rao was visibly emotional and broke down in the courtroom.
The DRI has been monitoring Ms. Rao after noting her frequent travels, including four visits to Dubai within a span of 15 days. Upon her arrest, she confessed to carrying 17 gold bars and acknowledged her global travel history, which involved 27 trips to Dubai over the past year. Reports suggest that she was involved in a smuggling network, allegedly earning significant commissions for her activities.
The recent seizure of gold marks one of the largest incidents at the Bengaluru airport. Authorities also discovered gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and approximately Rs 2.67 crore in cash during searches of Ms. Rao’s residence. Following the incident, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara indicated potential changes to the policy regarding protocol misuse in light of the allegations against Ms. Rao.
Ms. Rao has identified her father as KS Hegdesh, a real estate businessman. She is married to architect Jatin Hukkeri, and her stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, served as the Director-General of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. Mr. Rao has publicly denied any involvement in his stepdaughter’s alleged criminal activities and reported feeling devastated by her arrest.
Ranya Rao’s case underscores the serious implications of gold smuggling and the legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in such activities. The remand of Ms. Rao emphasizes the DRI’s commitment to investigating and mitigating threats to national security, particularly with rising instances of smuggling. As the case unfolds, the potential for policy changes in response to alleged misconduct within the protocol framework reflects the broader implications of such offenses on governance and law enforcement.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
