Latest


Gold smuggling case: Actress Ranya Rao alleges custodial assault, claims forced confession

  •   Sat, Mar 15 2025 09:45:02 PM

Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 15: In a shocking revelation, actress Ranya Rao, accused in a high-profile gold smuggling case, has alleged that she was subjected to physical assault and coercion while in custody. In a letter submitted to the additional director general of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), Rao claimed that she was repeatedly slapped, denied sleep and food, and forced to sign statements under duress.

Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly carrying 14 kg of gold while returning from Dubai. She is currently in judicial custody as investigations continue, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) also looking into the matter. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has appointed additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta to examine the alleged involvement of her stepfather, DGP K Ramachandra Rao, and any lapses by the police.


Ranya Rao and DGP K Ramachandra Rao

In her letter, Rao stated that DRI officials did not allow her to explain her innocence and physically assaulted her multiple times from the moment of her apprehension inside the aircraft until she was presented in court.

"I was slapped on my face nearly 10-15 times by the officers, whom I can identify. Despite the repeated physical assault, I initially refused to sign their statements. However, one officer threatened me, saying that if I did not comply, they would expose my father’s name, even though they knew he had no involvement in the case," she alleged.

Rao further claimed that under extreme pressure and physical intimidation, she was forced to sign nearly 50-60 typed pages and around 40 blank sheets. She also alleged that she was denied sleep and food from the evening of March 3 until her court appearance on March 4.

Rao strongly denied any involvement in gold smuggling, asserting that no recovery was made from her. She alleged that certain officials from Delhi were trying to shield other passengers and had falsely implicated her instead.

"No proper search was conducted, and I was not found in possession of anything. Some individuals from Delhi, introduced as officers, appeared keen on protecting others while framing me in the case," she wrote.

The actress also claimed that she was threatened on her way to the court on March 4. "I was warned that if I revealed the physical assault to the judge, my father’s name would be dragged into the case," she alleged.

Despite her allegations, the special court for economic offences rejected her bail plea. The court observed that the investigation was based on specific intelligence and a review of Rao’s travel history. It stated that her claims of being deprived of sleep and mistreated could not be considered at this stage of the inquiry.

As the case unfolds, the allegations of custodial assault and forced confession raise serious concerns. With multiple investigative agencies involved, the legal battle ahead promises to be a high-stakes affair.

 

 

 

 

 

 
  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: Gold smuggling case: Actress Ranya Rao alleges custodial assault, claims forced confession



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like