‘Slapped 10 to 15 times, forced to...’: Ranya Rao alleges assault by DRI in gold smuggling case

Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, alleged she was assaulted by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials and forced her to sign blank papers. She is the key accused in the gold smuggling case.

Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 by the DRI at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold, worth ₹12.56 crore, from Dubai.

Following this, searches were conducted at her residence, where officials recovered gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore, the DRI said in a press release.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.

'Slapped 10 to 15 times’

According to news agency PTI, Ranya wrote a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, claiming that a false case was foisted on her.

She reportedly said she was wrongly accused of carrying more than 14 kg of gold upon her return from Dubai.

"Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter," Ranya Rao alleged, as per PTI.

The actress further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced before the court, she was slapped in the face 10 to 15 times.

"Despite repeated hitting and slapping, I refused to sign the statement they prepared, Ranya said in the letter.

She also alleged that she was forced to sign 50 to 60 typed papers and around 40 blank sheets.

"One of the officers told me, 'If you don’t sign, we will expose your father’s name and identity, even though we know he is not involved," the model-actor claimed.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of DGP-rank officer K. Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

She has also acted in films, including 'Maanikya'.

The DRI had earlier stated in a press release that gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai.

Following searches at her residence, officials also recovered gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore.

Ranya Rao's stepfather sent on compulsory leave

Ranya Rao's stepfather, DGP Ramchandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave. The actress was arrested in a gold smuggling case last week.

"Sri. K.V. Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave," said a Karnataka Government order issued on Saturday.