Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Actor’s father K Ramachandra Rao reappointed as Director General of Police | Bengaluru News
NEW DELHI: The Karnataka government has reinstated senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Dr K Ramachandra Rao as Director General of Police (DGP) in the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, months after placing him on compulsory leave in connection with an ongoing gold smuggling investigation involving his daughter Ranya Rao. A government notification issued on Monday said the compulsory leave order for Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer, was withdrawn with immediate effect.
The posting is in an upgraded vacant position, which the order noted is equivalent in rank and responsibilities to the cadre post of DGP, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Units and Economic Offences in Bengaluru.
Gold smuggling caseRamachandra Rao, then heading the Karnataka Police Housing Corporation, was directed to go on compulsory leave in March after his daughter, Ranya Rao, was arrested at Bengaluru airport. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) alleged she had been caught smuggling 14.2kg of gold from Dubai. Officials claimed she was accompanied by a police constable assigned to protocol duties for IPS officers.The constable reportedly told investigators he had standing instructions to receive Rao whenever she returned from overseas trips but denied knowing about any gold being smuggled. Three central agencies – the DRI, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) – are probing the case, citing national security concerns.Denial of father’s involvementRanya, currently in jail, has denied any role by her father in the alleged smuggling. In a letter dated 6 March to the DRI’s Additional Director General, sent via the chief superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, she claimed she was “falsely implicated” and subjected to physical assault during her arrest. She alleged she was apprehended on board the aircraft, slapped multiple times, and threatened that her father’s name would be exposed unless she signed pre-prepared documents. The letter claimed she signed 50–60 typed pages and 40 blank sheets under duress, without any formal seizure mahazar being conducted. She further alleged that “some persons from Delhi, said to be officers, clearly wanted to shield some other passengers and falsely implicated me.”
