Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Karnataka government withdraws CID probe into police role | India News

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka government on Wednesday rescinded its directive for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe potential lapses and dereliction of duty by police officers at Kempegowda International Airport in connection with actress Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case.
The CID investigation was initially ordered on Monday night but was later withdrawn, news agency PTI reported. According to a revised order, additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta is already conducting an inquiry into the possible involvement of Ranya’s stepfather, K Ramachandra Rao, a senior police officer of DGP rank.
Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, is under scrutiny for the alleged misuse of protocol-related facilities. Gupta’s inquiry aims to establish the facts surrounding his role in the case.
The case gained prominence after authorities seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport. Subsequent searches at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash, officials said.
Earlier in the day, a Bengaluru Special Court for Economic Offences reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Ranya Rao. The court is expected to announce its decision on March 14.
During the bail hearing, senior advocate Kiran Javali, representing Rao, argued that the DRI failed to follow proper legal procedures during her arrest and interrogation. He contended that the arrest memo did not explicitly mention the “grounds of arrest,” violating the Supreme Court’s guidelines established in the DK Basu case.
Javali further stated that such procedural lapses warrant bail, irrespective of the seriousness of the allegations.
Countering the arguments, the DRI’s legal team emphasised the seriousness of the charges, alleging that Rao was involved in a major gold smuggling operation. They argued that releasing her on bail could hinder the investigation and potentially lead to evidence tampering or witness intimidation.
Meanwhile, Rao has alleged mistreatment in custody, claiming that DRI officials verbally abused her when she hesitated to answer certain questions. She also accused them of coercing her into signing documents without proper consent.
The DRI has strongly denied these allegations, maintaining that all procedures were conducted lawfully and respectfully.
As the case unfolds, Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri, has sought interim relief from the Karnataka high court, anticipating possible arrest. The court has granted him temporary protection from arrest, providing a brief reprieve as the investigation continues.