Kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling 14.8 kg of gold, will be questioned by I-T officials for 3 days. The gold worth over Rs 12.56 crore was hidden on her body and in her clothes at Bengaluru airport.
Bengaluru: Today, on June 11, Kannada actress Ranya Rao is now in deeper legal trouble as the Income Tax Department has received court permission to interrogate her for three days in connection with a gold smuggling case.
The Special Court for Economic Offences has allowed this questioning to take place from June 11 to June 13, between 10 AM and 5 PM each day.
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This interrogation will be conducted inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru, where the actress is currently lodged.
As per the court’s instructions,
“the interrogation will be videographed inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.”
Ranya Rao was earlier arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. During her personal check, officers discovered that she had hidden multiple gold bars.
According to officials,
“gold bars concealed around her waist and calves using bandages and tissues” were recovered.
Upon further inspection, authorities also found
“additional gold bars and cut pieces” that were “found hidden in her shoes and front pockets.”
The gold recovered from her possession was confirmed to be of 24-carat purity and was valued at
“over Rs 12.56 crore.”
Due to this, she has been
“booked under the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.”
The Income Tax Department is now investigating the financial angle of this case. Their focus is to find out how such a large quantity of gold was purchased, and who funded it.
The interrogation will be conducted by woman Inspector Shwetha and Inspector Ravipal.
Officials believe that this questioning could
“shed light on possible financial networks and identify any accomplices involved in the operation.”
Meanwhile, Ranya’s family has also taken legal action. On June 3, her mother filed a habeas corpus petition in the Karnataka High Court, claiming that her daughter is being illegally detained in connection with this gold smuggling matter.
Although Ranya Rao was “granted bail on May 20 by the Special Court for Economic Offences,” she has not been released yet. This is because she is also facing a separate legal case under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974, widely known as COFEPOSA
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