Today, On 10th March, Actress Ranya Rao broke down in a Bengaluru special court, stating that she faced verbal abuse, not physical torture, while in custody. The court had inquired whether she was subjected to physical harm during detention. Rao expressed deep trauma from the experience. Her statement has sparked discussions on custodial treatment and mental harassment.
Bengaluru: Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who apprehended for smuggling gold bars valued at Rs 14.56 crore last week, expressed in court on Monday that she is “traumatized and emotionally broken” after allegedly being “verbally tortured and threatened” while in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
During a hearing in a special court in Bengaluru, which inquired about any physical mistreatment during her detention, Ms. Rao denied experiencing physical torture but stated,
“I was verbally tortured and threatened. I am traumatized and emotionally broken,”
Also Read: Gold Smuggling Case || Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Sent to 3-Day DRI Custody
The DRI refuted her claims, asserting that the entire process of her arrest and interrogation was captured on CCTV.
These allegations arose amid speculation regarding potential assault, fueled by a widely circulated photo showing her with swollen eyes and bruises. Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary noted that an investigation into the actor’s possible assault cannot proceed without a formal complaint.
Ranya Rao has been remanded to judicial custody until March 24, with a hearing on her bail application set for Tuesday. She is the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ramachandra Rao and was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3 for smuggling gold bars weighing 14.2 kg.
The actor, who made her debut in the 2014 film Maanikya, flagged by DRI officials after her fourth trip to Dubai in just 15 days. Reports indicate that she made a total of 27 trips to Dubai in the past year. Sources suggest that she concealed some of the gold by wearing it and hiding the rest in her clothing to evade detection.
After her arrest, investigators searched her residence, recovering gold jewelry worth over Rs 2 crore and cash totaling Rs 2.67 crore. In a leaked statement, Ranya revealed details about her international travels, admitting to possession of 17 gold bars.
Additionally, two individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: T. Raj, believed to have close ties with her, and Tarun Kondaraju, a friend who accompanied her in Dubai.
In response to the situation, Ramachandra Rao expressed his shock and devastation over his stepdaughter’s arrest for smuggling. In a statement on March 5, he emphasized that his career has remained unblemished and noted that he had not been in contact with Ranya since her marriage four months ago. He also stated that he was unaware of her and her husband Jatin Hukkeri’s business activities.
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