Actor Ranya Rao alleges custodial torture amidst gold smuggling case probe
PTC Web Desk: Actor Ranya Rao has alleged custodial torture and wrongful implication in a major gold smuggling case, claiming she was arrested directly from an aircraft rather than inside the airport terminal, as officially stated. In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), she accused officials of physical assault, sleep deprivation, and coercion into signing blank documents under duress.
Her claims surfaced a day after a Bengaluru special court denied her bail request, intensifying political scrutiny over the case. The Karnataka government has launched an inquiry into the alleged involvement of her stepfather, Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, while also reviewing possible lapses by enforcement agencies.
Ranya Rao was detained at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, allegedly attempting to smuggle over 14 kg of gold from Dubai. However, in her letter from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, she contested the official reports, asserting she was taken into custody before disembarking the aircraft. She further claimed that she was slapped multiple times, threatened regarding her father’s identity, and framed to protect more powerful individuals involved in the smuggling network.
The letter was dated March 6, yet during her court appearance on March 9, Rao denied any custodial torture when questioned thrice by the judge. Her legal representatives also did not raise concerns of mistreatment at the time.
On Friday, the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru rejected her bail plea, with Judge Vishwanath C Gowdar highlighting her frequent travels to Dubai—27 times since January 2025—as a key factor against granting relief. The court emphasised the case’s serious implications on the national economy, given the amount of gold smuggled and the estimated customs duty evasion of Rs 4.83 crore—far exceeding the Rs 50 lakh legal threshold under the Customs Act.
According to initial investigations, Ranya Rao allegedly concealed gold bars on her body, inside her jeans pockets, and in her shoes. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now initiated a money laundering probe to track financial transactions linked to the smuggling operation.
The Karnataka government initially ordered a CID probe into possible protocol violations at the airport but later withdrew it within 24 hours, sparking speculations of political interference. Defending the move, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that the matter was already being handled by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), making a separate police inquiry unnecessary.
Meanwhile, based on a complaint by the DRI, the CBI has launched an independent investigation to identify unknown public officials who may have facilitated the smuggling network.
On March 6, just days after Rao’s arrest, two foreign nationals—one from Oman and another from the UAE—were apprehended while attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Investigators suspect these cases are linked to an extensive gold smuggling syndicate based in Dubai.
The authorities have since raided Rao’s residence, uncovering gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
- With inputs from agencies
