In gold smuggling case, Karnataka sends Ranya’s DGP stepdad on forced leave

The Karnataka Government on Saturday placed DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao on compulsory leave.

Advertisement

KV Sharath Chandra, Additional Director General of Police (Recruitment), will replace him, the government added. Rao’s stepdaughter and Kannada actress Ranya Rao, aka Harshavardhini Ranya, was arrested on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai.

An IPS officer, Rao was serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

The Karnataka Government, on March 10, appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to probe Rao’s possible involvement in Ranya’s alleged gold smuggling activities.

Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at the airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has stated in the court that the Karnataka Police Protocol Officer was used in the gold smuggling racket.

Meanwhile, Ranya has alleged that DRI officials assaulted her and forced her to sign blank and typed papers.

In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, Ranya claimed that a false case had been foisted on her.

She stated that she was wrongly accused of carrying more than 14 kg of gold upon her return from Dubai.

“Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter,” alleged Ranya.

The actress further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced before the court, she was slapped in the face 10 to 15 times.

“Despite repeated hitting and slapping, I refused to sign the statement they prepared,” she alleged, stating that she was forced to sign 50 to 60 typed papers and around 40 blank sheets.

“One of the officers told me, ‘If you don’t sign, we will expose your father’s name and identity, even though we know he is not involved,” the model-actor claimed.