Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Bengaluru court reserves order on actor's bail plea
Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Kannada actress Ranya Rao's stepfather and IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao has expressed surprise and disappointment over Ranya's arrest in the gold smuggling case. He also claimed that there was never any stain on his career. However, his previous service record tells a different story.
On the other hand, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has sought three days' custody of actress Ranya Rao in connection with the investigation related to national security.
Ranya Rao gold smuggling case
This appeal was presented before the Economic Offenses Court, where Ranya's defense lawyers have sought time from the court to file objections. However, DRI lawyers argued that the objections should not be considered while seeking custody, stressing on the sensitive nature of the case.
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They said that protocols have been violated, and key details cannot be disclosed in open court. They further assured that if necessary, the investigation details can be submitted in a sealed envelope.
DRI has sought three days' custody of actress Ranya Rao
The court was informed that important developments have taken place in the last two days and revealing the details publicly could jeopardise the investigation. The DRI insisted on custody, saying there is a possibility of a larger syndicate, and a multi-pronged investigation is needed.
Also Read: Karnataka DGP’s daughter Ranya Rao caught smuggling 14 Kg gold at Bengaluru airport!
The prosecution also cited the Supreme Court directive, under which custody up to 40 days is allowed in such cases. The judge ruled that the bail plea can be considered only after the investigation is completed.
Appeal was presented before the Economic Offenses Court
On the other hand, IPS Ramachandra Rao says that the law will do its job. There is no black spot on his career. He said that he had no prior knowledge of Ranya's alleged involvement in smuggling activities and came to know about the arrest only through media reports.
When such an incident came to my notice through the media, I was shocked and disheartened, I was not aware of any of these things, like any other father I was shocked. She is not living with us, she lives separately with her husband. There is some problem between them due to some family issues, he said.
No prior knowledge of Ranya's alleged involvement in smuggling activities
However, Ramachandra Rao's own career has been full of controversies. In 2014, while serving as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Mysore's Southern Range, he was embroiled in a major hawala scandal.
The police stopped a bus carrying hawala money and seized Rs 20 lakh from it. However, later a businessman from Kerala accused the police of extorting a lot of money from him.
Ramachandra Rao's own career has been full of controversies
The businessman had lodged a case alleging that Rs 2.07 crore was looted from a Kerala-bound bus in Mysore's Yelwal area. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) took over the case and during the investigation, police informers and even Ramachandra Rao's personal gunman were arrested. As a result, he was removed from the post of IGP of Southern Range and redeployed to the headquarters.
Ramachandra Rao's personal gunman was arrested
Two years later, Ramachandra Rao was in trouble again. The CID had questioned him and another senior IPS officer about the deaths of gangsters Dharmaraj and Gangadhar Chadchana in connection with an alleged fake encounter. When questioned by the CID, Rao had said that he had no knowledge of the case.
Summary
Meanwhile, Ranya Roy has been sent to 14 days judicial custody under the Customs Act 1962 after she was arrested with 14.8 kg of foreign gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on March 3. During interrogation, Ranya claimed that she was blackmailed into smuggling the gold.
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