Did Ranya Rao's Father DGP K Ramachandra Rao Know About Her Protocol Misuse? Probe Team Thinks...
Sources told News18 that the probe team believes there is "prima facie evidence" suggesting that Ramachandra Rao knew about his stepdaughter's violation of protocol
The investigation team probing the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao believes that IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao was aware of his stepdaughter’s misuse of protocol privileges.
Government sources told News18 that the probe team believes there is “prima facie evidence" suggesting that Ramachandra Rao knew about his stepdaughter’s violation of protocol.
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The investigation team, appointed by the Karnataka government on March 10, has been looking into the DGP-rank officer’s possible involvement in the gold smuggling case and also examining the alleged protocol violations by Ranya Rao at the airport.
The probe report, submitted to the government on Tuesday, is led by Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta. Details of the report have yet to be made public.
Ramachandra Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer, has been under investigation since his stepdaughter’s arrest in the gold smuggling case earlier this month. The DGP-rank officer, who had held the position of chairman and managing director for the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, was placed on “compulsory leave" by the Karnataka government.
Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3, upon her arrival from Dubai, where gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized. Subsequent searches by the DRI at her residence uncovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Ranya Rao had admitted during interrogation that the money used to purchase gold was transferred through hawala channels.
“Money has been sent to Ranya Rao through hawala, she has confessed that," senior advocate Madhu Rao, representing the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), had said during proceedings before a special court in the case.
A bail plea hearing for Ranya Rao took place at the 64th CCH Sessions Court in Bengaluru. During the proceedings, her counsel, Kiran Jawali, had argued for her release, while DRI counsel Rao presented evidence linking her directly to the illicit transfer of funds.
The court had reserved its bail order for March 27 after hearing arguments from both sides.
ALSO READ: Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Exclusive Bail Order Reveals Why Court Rejected Tarun Raju’s Plea
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