A decision allowing a CID investigation into the state police’s purported abuse of privilege in the gold smuggling case involving actor Ranya Rao was revoked by the Karnataka government on Wednesday. This occurred one day after the decree was issued by the state administration.
On Tuesday, more than a week after Rao was found in possession of 14.2 kg of gold valued at more over Rs 12.86 crore at the Bengaluru airport, the Siddaramaiah-led government ordered a CID investigation into the suspected misuse of official privileges and protocol benefits by the police. However, Gaurav Gupta, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Karnataka government, will continue to lead the investigation into the role of Ranya Rao’s stepfather and Director General of Police (DGP), K Ramachandra Rao.
At the moment, K Ramachandra Rao is the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation’s chairman and managing director. When Ranya Rao arrived in Bengaluru from Dubai, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) detained her. On March 3, the gold bars were discovered fastened to Ranya Rao’s body in a covert waistband.
A Bengaluru court postponed making a ruling on Ranya Rao’s bail request earlier today. On March 14, the court is anticipated to issue its ruling. The protocol officer who assisted Ranya Rao in evading airport security checks was instructed by superiors, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said the court.
According to the DRI, Ranya Rao took advantage of VIP airport procedures designed to allow high-ranking officials to evade security inspections. According to investigators, the actor’s bags would be picked up by a state protocol officer at immigration for expedited security clearance. In this manner, she would avoid frisking when she landed at the airport. The DRI said that if bail was granted, the actor may leave the country and sway the witnesses.
In response to senior advocate Kiran Javali’s assertion that the agency had violated legal procedures by failing to identify the “grounds of arrest” while representing Ranya Rao, the agency issued its answer. A separate investigation into the possible involvement of Ranya Rao’s stepfather, K Ramachandra Rao, in the gold smuggling event has also been started by the Karnataka government.
