Sandalwood actor Ranya Rao, accused in a gold smuggling case, has written a five-page letter to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials, asserting her innocence and alleging physical assault during interrogation.
According to The Indian Express, the handwritten letter, dated March 6 and sent through prison authorities, is addressed to the Additional Director General of DRI, HBR Layout, Bengaluru.
In the letter, Ranya, who identifies herself as Harshavardhini Ranya, 33, and the wife of Jatin Hukkeri, claims she was falsely implicated in the case. She states that she was apprehended inside the aircraft and arrested without being given an opportunity to explain. Further, she alleges that during her detention, she was slapped 10-15 times by officials and forced to sign over 50 typed pages and 40 blank pages under duress.
“One official threatened to expose my father’s identity, despite him having no involvement. I was deprived of sleep and proper food in DRI custody. No mahazar was drawn, no search was conducted, and nothing was recovered from me. Some officials are trying to protect other passengers while framing me,” Ranya wrote, urging that no reliance be placed on her statements made during custody.
Meanwhile, the case continues to shake Karnataka’s police administration. The state government has directed senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, DGP of Karnataka Police Housing Corporation, to take ‘compulsory leave.’ Ranya Rao was a top contender for the DG-IGP post, making the move significant amid the ongoing probe.
On Saturday, the Karnataka Government ordered DGP (Karnataka Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao to go on a ‘Compulsory leave’. Talking to the media, he said that he was unaware of his stepdaughter’s alleged activities and also said that the family was shocked after hearing the news.
