IPS Officer Under Scanner
Bengaluru’s high-profile gold smuggling scandal has taken a dramatic turn, pulling in former top cop Ramachandra Rao into the vortex of the investigation. The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into the senior IPS officer’s possible involvement in the illicit activities of his stepdaughter, actor Ranya Rao, who was caught red-handed at Kempegowda International Airport with a staggering 14.8 kg of gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore.
IPS Officer Under Scanner
The arrest, made on March 3, came after a tip-off, leading Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials to closely monitor Rao’s arrival from Dubai. What began as a single case of smuggling quickly escalated into a larger investigation when a raid on her Lavelle Road apartment uncovered even more gold, raising suspicions of a wider criminal network.
IPS Officer Under Scanner
Adding a layer of controversy to the case, authorities are now probing whether Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-rank officer, misused his position to facilitate his stepdaughter’s repeated movement through airport security without the usual scrutiny. Reports indicate that Ranya Rao traveled to Dubai four times in just 15 days, a frequency that has raised several red flags.
IPS Officer Under Scanner
The High-Profile Fallout
As the scandal unfolds, Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta has been tasked with leading an inquiry into Rao’s role, if any, in the smuggling operation. Meanwhile, Ranya Rao, now in judicial custody until March 18, has alleged mistreatment during her three-day interrogation. However, the DRI has refuted these claims, asserting that all questioning was conducted lawfully, with legal counsel present and CCTV footage to back their stance.
IPS Officer Under Scanner
In a desperate attempt to distance himself from the controversy, Ramachandra Rao has denied any involvement, claiming he had been out of touch with Ranya ever since her marriage four months ago. “The law will take its own course,” he stated.
A Cop with a Controversial Past
While Rao insists on his innocence, his track record isn’t exactly spotless. In 2014, when he served as Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range, he was entangled in a money seizure scandal, where merchants alleged that officers misappropriated ₹2.27 crore, though official records only acknowledged a seizure of ₹20 lakh.
IPS Officer Under Scanner
With the investigation now expanding into Ranya Rao’s alleged smuggling network and her stepfather’s possible role, this case is shaping up to be one of the most sensational crime stories Karnataka has seen in recent years.
Stay tuned as more twists unfold!
