Ranya Rao’s stepfather and senior cop Ramachandra Rao questioned in gold smuggling case: Top developments so far

The high-profile gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao has taken a new turn, with her stepfather, Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, now under scrutiny. Authorities have questioned the senior police official regarding allegations that he misused his position to facilitate the illicit gold trade, according to a report in India Today.

IAS officer Gaurav Gupta, leading the probe, is expected to submit the final report within the next two days, as reported by Hindustan Times.

This follows weeks of investigation into the smuggling operation that led to Ranya Rao’s arrest at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on March 3. Authorities seized 14.2 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.56 crore from her upon arrival from a foreign destination. Additional searches at her residence uncovered gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash, Times of India stated.

The Karnataka government placed DGP Ramachandra Rao on compulsory leave on March 15, following allegations that he influenced airport security personnel and police protocol officers to facilitate his stepdaughter’s activities.

India Today reported that Rao was serving as Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation at the time of his removal.

Investigators uncovered that Ranya Rao allegedly used her stepfather’s influence to bypass security screenings, often introducing herself as a senior officer’s daughter. A protocol officer admitted to helping her under Rao’s direct instructions, allowing her to use the Green Channel at the airport without customs checks, according to Times of India.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has also found links to a larger smuggling syndicate operating through hawala transactions, facilitating the movement of funds from India to other countries for purchasing gold. Authorities suspect that other high-ranking officials may have been involved in the operation.

The case has now drawn the attention of multiple central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), as they dig deeper into the money trail and potential accomplices within the system. The final investigation report, due in the coming days, is expected to shed more light on the extent of the network and whether other officials were complicit in the operation.