Actor Ranya Rao, accused in a high-profile gold smuggling case, has claimed custodial torture and wrongful implication in a letter to the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
Rao, who was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, alleges that she was detained inside the aircraft before disembarking, contradicting official reports that she was taken into custody from the airport terminal.
Ranya Rao’s Allegations of Mistreatment
In her letter from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Rao alleges that she was physically assaulted and denied food and sleep, forced to sign blank documents under duress and threatened with exposure of her stepfather’s identity.
She further claims that she is being framed to protect more powerful individuals involved in the gold smuggling network.
However, her allegations raise questions. Court records show that Rao wrote the letter on March 6 but when she was produced in court on March 9, she denied custodial torture three times when questioned by the judge. Additionally, her lawyers did not raise any concerns about mistreatment during the hearing.
Court Denies Bail, Cites Flight Risk
On Friday, March 14, the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru rejected Rao’s bail plea.
Judge Vishwanath C Gowdar noted Rao possesses a UAE Resident Identity Card, had traveled to Dubai 27 times since January 2025 and the quantity of gold smuggled had serious economic implications.
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Preliminary investigations suggest that Rao concealed gold bars by taping them to her body, placing them inside her jeans pockets and hiding them in her shoes.
Authorities estimate customs duty evasion at Rs 4.83 crore, far surpassing the Rs 50 lakh threshold under the Customs Act.
CBI and ED Launch Probes Into Wider Smuggling Network
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated an independent probe into the possible role of public servants in facilitating the smuggling operation.
Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering investigation, tracking the financial transactions linked to the case.
Searches at Rao’s residence led to the seizure of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
The case has taken a political turn, with the Karnataka government ordering a probe into the alleged involvement of Rao’s stepfather, Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao. However, the CID probe into possible protocol violations at the airport was withdrawn within 24 hours, fueling speculation of political influence.
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Home Minister G Parameshwara defended the decision, stating that the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) was already handling the matter and that a parallel police investigation was unnecessary.
Interconnected Smuggling Syndicate Under Investigation
Just days after Rao’s arrest, authorities caught two foreign nationals—one from Oman and another from the UAE—smuggling 21.28 kg of gold through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The DRI suspects these cases are linked, indicating a larger gold smuggling network operating out of Dubai.
