DGP dad to be probed in Ranya gold case, brother’s crypto ‘links’ also under scanner | India News

BENGALURU: Karnataka’s Congress govt has ordered a probe into whether DGP (Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao had any role in the alleged gold-smuggling racket of his daughter and Kannada actress Ranya Rao. A one-man committee, led by additional chief secretary (ACS) Gaurav Gupta, will investigate the matter.
Senior officers were reportedly unaware that a constable had escorted the actor — with 14.2kg gold bars strapped to her body — out of Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) when Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials intercepted her on March 3. She had arrived from Dubai and was arrested soon after.
“Gupta’s inquiry will focus on the allegations against Rao, saying it was he who directed the constable to pick up Ranya. CID will probe alleged dereliction of duty by local police in the same episode,” a senior officer said. The move follows allegations by opposition BJP that the govt was shielding the big fish in the smuggling ring.
Investigations revealed a violation of police protocol. Protocol staff told DRI officials that they had instructions to pick up Ranya. CBI has issued notices to four personnel from police protocol wing to explain why they were escorting Ranya out of the airport.
Late Monday night, CBI sleuths raided Ranya’s Bengaluru flat and seized key documents. A special court for economic offences has adjourned hearing on Ranya’s bail petition to Wednesday. DRI sleuths had filed objections on Tuesday.
Also under the scanner are Ranya’s brother K Rushab for possible links between the gold case and a multi-crore bitcoin scam being probed by a special investigating team (SIT) of the state police’s CID.
“We need to know how payments were made for the purchase of 14.2kg gold carried by Ranya from Dubai. We are exploring all angles, including cryptocurrency,” a source said.

Don’t arrest Ranya’s husband, says HC

Karnataka HC passed an interim order Tuesday barring DRI from arresting Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri, the husband of Ranya, without following the due process of law. Justice Hemant Chandanagoudar passed the order after hearing senior advocatePrabhuling Navadgi, who appeared for Jatin.
(Inputs from Rajiv Kalkod in Bengaluru)