In a high-profile case that has gripped Karnataka, Kannada film actress Ranya Rao, apprehended last week for allegedly smuggling gold bars valued at Rs 14.56 crore, has claimed she faced verbal harassment and received threats while in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
Appearing before a special court in Bengaluru, Rao refuted allegations of physical mistreatment but expressed her ordeal, stating, "I was verbally tortured and threatened. I am traumatised and emotionally broken," before breaking into tears.
The DRI has countered these allegations, asserting that all procedures, including Rao's arrest and interrogation, were documented via CCTV footage.
This controversy arose amid growing speculation that Rao was assaulted post-arrest, fueled by widely shared images depicting her with swollen eyes and facial bruising.
Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, has indicated that any investigation into potential physical assault on Rao requires a formal complaint to be lodged first.
Currently, the actress has been remanded to judicial custody until March 24, with a bail application hearing slated for Tuesday.
Ranya, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was intercepted at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on March 3. She was reportedly carrying 14.2 kg of gold upon arrival from Dubai, raising red flags after four trips to Dubai in just 15 days, and a total of 27 journeys over the past year.
According to insiders, Rao allegedly smuggled gold by wearing parts of it and concealing the remainder within her attire. Subsequent searches at her residence uncovered gold jewelry valued over Rs 2 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
In a purportedly leaked statement, Rao divulged details of her international travels, which reportedly included numerous locations across the Middle East and Western nations, confessing to possessing 17 gold bars during her arrest.
Besides Rao, authorities have detained two associates, T Raj and Tarun Kondaraju, in connection with this case.
Denouncing the allegations against her, IPS officer Ramachandra Rao expressed shock over his stepdaughter's arrest. In a statement dated March 5, he claimed a blemish-free career history and affirmed a lack of contact with his stepdaughter since her marriage four months ago. Rao also denied any knowledge of Ranya’s and her husband Jatin Hukkeri’s alleged business activities.