Karnataka Govt Orders Probe Against Ranya Rao's IPS Officer Stepfather Ramachandra Rao In Gold Smuggling Case

The Karnataka government has appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to investigate the possible involvement of DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao in the alleged gold smuggling activities of his stepdaughter, Kannada actress Ranya Rao.

The Chief Minister's Office informed the media on Tuesday that an official order appointing Gaurav Gupta was issued on Monday night.

Ramachandra Rao currently serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore were confiscated from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Subsequent searches at her residence led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore.

Who is Ramachandra Rao?

Ramachandra Rao, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, has distanced himself from his stepdaughter. He stated, "I have no connection to my daughter's activities. She got married four months ago and has not been in contact with us since. The law will take its own course."

Rao, a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in September 2023.

His career has not been without controversy, notably a case in 2014 during his tenure as Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range. At that time, police reportedly seized ₹20 lakh from a private bus in Mysuru. However, merchants transporting the cash alleged the actual sum was ₹2.27 crore and accused the police of misappropriation.

The Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru on 3rd March, seizing 14.8 kilograms of gold estimated at ₹12.56 crore. Authorities allege that she smuggled the gold from Dubai. Her arrest followed a tip-off, prompting officials to deploy a team at the airport to monitor her arrival.

Following her arrest, a search of her Lavelle Road apartment led to the recovery of additional quantities of gold. Investigators suspect she exploited her connection with her stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, to evade customs scrutiny. Reports indicate that she travelled to Dubai four times within 15 days, raising suspicions about her involvement in a larger smuggling network.

Ranya Rao was presented before a special court for financial offences on 4th March, where she was remanded in judicial custody until 18th March.

During the court proceedings, she alleged that DRI officials verbally harassed her during her three-day interrogation. However, the DRI denied these claims, asserting that all questioning took place in the presence of legal counsel and that CCTV footage could verify their account.

(With PTI inputs)