Bengaluru:
The Karnataka government on Tuesday on Tuesday jailed in the gold smuggling case, DGP, father of actress Ranya Rao. Orded to investigate against Ramchandra Rao. The CID will also investigate the protocol violation at the Bengaluru International Airport. The Karnataka government has sought a report within a week.
Actress Rao was arrested for misusing the name of her father Ramchandra Rao to avoid security checks by taking advantage of the protocol reserved for gold smuggling and supreme rank officials.
The government has entrusted the responsibility of investigation to Additional Chief Secretary Senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta. Gupta has been tasked to investigate the circumstances, due to which Ranya took advantage of the protocol facility and what was the role of her father in it.
The order said, “Last week, reports about violations and misuse of protocol have come out by Ranya Rao to facilitate gold smuggling. It has also been reported that he has also reported that he has given his father, IPS officer, DGP and Karnataka Housing Corporation Limited and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and Karnataka Housing Corporation Limited to use the protocol privileges given to high positions. MD misused the name of Ramchandra Rao. “
In the order, it has been further alleged that Ranya Rao used his father’s name to ignore the security check and commit a crime. In this context, the government considered it necessary to investigate the role of Ramchandra Rao in enabling Ranya to avail the protocol facility at the airport.
The investigating officer has also been instructed to seek all necessary documents and assistance from the Secretary of the State Police, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department (DPAR). The special court has sent Ranya Rao to judicial custody till 24 March. The issue was raised by the BJP in the assembly session and the party has accused the involvement of two ministers in the case.
Home Minister Parmeshwar said that there is no relation between the State Police Department and Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling case. If there is any involvement of the state police in the case, the CBI will investigate the case. DRI officials arrested him after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from Ranya at Bangalore International Airport.
The agency seized gold of Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore cash from its luxurious flat on Lavel Road. He had allegedly paid a flat of Rs 4.5 lakh flat. On the arrest of his step daughter Ranya, DGP Rao of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation said that he is shocked by this incident.
