The actress has been put in judicial custody from March 10 until March 24. However, her bail application hearing is set for Tuesday (March 11).
The title, ‘Juxtaposed Scandals’, aptly describes the current situation, as the arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao for gold smuggling has reignited the scrutiny of her stepfather, senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, and his own history of controversial incidents. Ranya, stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, was apprehended at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on March 3, 2025. She was, allegedly, carrying 14.2 kg of gold.
Following the passing of his first wife, Director-General of Police (DGP) Rao had remarried. Ranya is one of two daughters from his second wife’s previous marriage. When Ranya arrived on an Emirates flight from Dubai, she was already under surveillance due to her frequent international travels, despite lacking known business—or familial—ties abroad.
Officials reported that she had made four trips to Dubai within a span of only 15 days, which raised significant suspicions. Investigators discovered that she had concealed the gold by wearing a substantial portion and hiding gold bars inside her clothing. A statement from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) confirmed that 14.2 kg of gold, valued at Rs. 12.56 crore, was ingeniously concealed on her person. The contraband was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Ranya’s frequent trips to Dubai and other countries had already raised suspicions before her arrest. Investigators from the DRI also found that she had been bypassing security checks at the airport, reportedly due to a ‘bureaucratic protocol’ linked to her stepfather’s influence. Sources suggest that this protocol may have involved expedited security clearance procedures. Alongside Ranya Rao, T Raj, reportedly a close associate, and Tarun Kondaraju, a friend who accompanied her to Dubai, have also been detained in connection with the case.
The actress has been put in judicial custody from March 10 until March 24. However, her bail application hearing is set for Tuesday (March 11).
DGP Rao has denied any involvement in the case, expressing ‘shock and devastation’ upon learning of his stepdaughter’s arrest. In a statement on March 5, he stressed the integrity of his career, stating that he had never been implicated in any wrongdoing. He also mentioned that he had been out of contact with Ranya since her marriage four months earlier and was unaware of her or her husband, Jatin Hukkeri’s, business activities.
2014 Hawala Scandal & Rao’s Transfer
While DGP Rao maintains his innocence, past incidents during his career have raised significant questions about his conduct. His career took a controversial turn in 2014 during his tenure as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range in Mysuru. He became embroiled in a major hawala case when the police intercepted a bus and seized Rs. 20 lakh in illegal cash. A Kerala businessman later alleged that the actual sum confiscated was Rs. 2.07 crore.
The case was transferred to the CID, resulting in the arrest of police informants and Ramachandra Rao’s personal gunman. The CID report was forwarded to the DG and IG of Police, prompting then state police chief Om Prakash to take action. Despite then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s public criticism, Rao had avoided severe repercussions. According to an anonymous senior police officer, Om Prakash recommended only disciplinary action, as reported by Bangalore Mirror. Nevertheless, Rao was removed from his position as IGP of the Southern Range and reassigned to headquarters.
2017 Encounter: Allegations & Denials
In November 2018, Rao faced further scrutiny regarding his role as IGP (Northern Range) in October 2017, alongside Vijayapura district SP, Kuldeep Jain. The inquiry focussed on the deaths of alleged gangsters Dharmaraj and Gangadhar Chadachana, suspected to be staged encounters, in Indi taluka of Vijayapura district, as reported by The Hindu.
Ramachandra Rao denied prior knowledge of the operation. However, allegations surfaced that he was aware of the impending encounter and had transferred police sub-inspector Gopal Hallur to Chadachan police station months earlier. In his defence, he told the CID that the transfer was procedural and denied any knowledge of a planned encounter. He claimed to have learnt of the killings only after the incident and ordered a detailed investigation following a complaint from the victim’s family.
Superintendent of police Kuldeep Jain also denied involvement, claiming he was misled by local officers and that he had recommended the CID probe. The encounter occurred in October 2017 during a police raid. Dharmaraj Chadachana was killed, and his brother’s body was later found in the backwaters of the Bhima river. The CID investigation revealed that the operation was allegedly orchestrated by local Congress leader Mahadeva Bhairagonda.
The CID arrested S-I Hallur, inspector MB Asode and three constables, along with Bhairagonda and other accused individuals. A charge-sheet was filed, reinforcing suspicions of a premeditated extrajudicial killing. While Ramachandra Rao maintained that his involvement was limited to only official duties, S-I Hallur’s transfer prior to the encounter remains a bone of contention.
As investigations continue into Ranya Rao’s alleged smuggling case, questions have emerged about whether DGP Rao played any role in facilitating her actions through protocol advantages. The public awaits further developments to clarify any potential involvement.
(The author Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Writer and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)
