Ranya Rao case: CM Siddaramaiah orders probe into protocol violations, role of IPS officer

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a probe into the allegations of ‘protocol violations’ at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and the alleged role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to actress Ranya Rao.

Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta has been appointed as the investigating officer in this case. The Chief Minister has instructed that the report be submitted within a week. It is alleged that actress Ranya Rao misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to “evade” checks at airports and conduct “illegal” activities.

The official order read, “As it has been reported in the media and newspapers for the past one week that the actress Mrs Ranya Rao was illegally transporting gold bullion from Dubai to Bangalore when she was arrested by the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Also, the etiquettes given to the top officials at the airports were given to their father by the Director General of Police of the State IPS Group, the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS”.

“It is reported that Mrs Rao has misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to evade checks at airports and conduct illegal activities. Therefore, the Government considers it necessary to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of courtesy facilities and the role of Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, in this case”, it said.

Gaurav Gupta will investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of IPS Rao in this case. The order read, “In view of the points outlined in the proposal, . Gaurav Gupta, Bha.A.Se. Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore, has been appointed as the investigating officer to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS in this case. Investigators will begin an investigation immediately, and file an investigation report”.

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai.

Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP K Ramachandra Rao, was produced before a special court judge on the evening of March 4 for financial offences. On March 4, Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for financial offences and was remanded to judicial custody until March 18.

Prior to her transfer to custody, she underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru. During her questioning, Rao claimed that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes. However, authorities suspect that her visit was linked to the illegal importation of gold. Then she was remanded to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) custody until March 10.

The Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru allowed the actress to meet her advocate for half an hour each day during her 3-day DRI custody. The court, presided over by Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar, directed the DRI to provide Rao with essentials like food and a bed during her custody and cautioned the DRI against harsh treatment during the investigation. (ANI)