Ranya Rao breaks down in court, alleges ‘verbal torture, trauma’

Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress facing allegations of smuggling gold into India from Dubai, informed a court that she was verbally abused and threatened by officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Last week, the actress, who is the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer, was taken into custody for allegedly smuggling gold bars valued at ₹14.56 crore at the Bengaluru airport. She was placed in judicial custody today until March 24.

Ranya Rao stated in court today that she felt “traumatised and emotionally shattered” while in DRI custody. Ranya Rao also asserted that DRI officials verbally mistreated her whenever she ceased responding to their inquiries. At the same time, Ranya Rao’s purported connection to the gold smuggling case has ignited a political battle in Karnataka.

The BJP has claimed that a powerful minister is protecting her. The Congress charged the BJP with granting her 12 acres to establish a TMT steel bar factory.

The MLA stated that the obvious breach of government protocols that supposedly allowed Ranya Rao to smuggle gold exceeding ₹12 crore could not have occurred without the direct backing of powerful individuals within the government.

Reports indicate that Ranya Rao took approximately 30 trips to Dubai within a year, raising flags with the DRI. She reportedly fastened gold bars to her body with tape.