The Karnataka government has initiated a high-level probe into allegations that Kannada actor Ranya Rao misused official privileges to bypass airport security while smuggling gold. The inquiry, ordered by the state administration, will be led by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta.
According to an official directive dated March 10, the probe will examine how Rao circumvented security checks, accessed privileges reserved for senior government officials, and whether Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Managing Director Ramachandra Rao played any role in facilitating this breach. The report is expected to be submitted within a week.
To ensure a thorough investigation, senior police officials, Karnataka secretaries, and the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms have been directed to provide all relevant documents and assistance to the inquiry team.
Actor Breaks Down in Court, Alleges Ill-Treatment in Custody
Ranya Rao, who was apprehended at Bengaluru Airport for allegedly smuggling gold worth ₹14.56 crore, appeared in court on Monday, visibly distressed. Breaking down during the proceedings, she claimed to be "traumatized and emotionally broken" and accused the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of subjecting her to verbal threats and intimidation during her custody.
Who is Ranya Rao, and Why Was She Arrested?
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Director General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao. She had reportedly been under surveillance due to her frequent travel to Dubai—making 30 trips in the past year, including four visits within just 15 days.
Earlier this week, Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru Airport with nearly 15 kg of gold strapped to her body. Following her arrest, the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted raids at her residence, recovering gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash.
Additionally, her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, was also found to have been frequently traveling to Dubai with her, raising further suspicions about their activities. Authorities have described this case as one of the largest gold smuggling operations uncovered in Karnataka’s history.
The ongoing investigation is expected to shed light on the potential misuse of official privileges and the wider network behind this illicit operation.
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.