Karnataka govt withdraws CID probe over 'police role' in Ranya Rao's smuggling case

The state police's  CID was initially tasked with investigating protocol violations by police at the Bengaluru International Airport.

The Home Ministry has now revoked the probe order.

The government move comes two days after the CBI took over the 14-kg gold smuggling case that has been making headlines for more than a week.

Ranya Rao, who was arrested while smuggling gold bars worth Rs 14.56 crore last week, Monday alleged in the court that she is "traumatised and emotionally broken" after being "verbally tortured and threatened" in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)'s custody.

Rao made the submissions before a special court, in Bengaluru.

The court has in turn sought to know if she was physically tortured in custody.

To this, the actor said she was not subjected to physical torture. "I was verbally tortured and threatened. I am traumatised and emotionally broken," she said, breaking down in court.

The DRI dismissed the charge and said the entire procedure (involving arrest and interrogation) had been recorded on CCTV.

The developments came against the backdrop of speculation that Rao might have been assaulted during or after her arrest after a widely-circulated image showed her with swollen eyes and bruises on her face.

Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary earlier said that a probe into the actor's possible assault cannot be conducted until a formal complaint is filed.

The actor has been sent to judicial custody till March 24 but a hearing on her bail application is scheduled for Tuesday.

What is the case?

Ranya, who is the step-daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 at the Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs. 12.86 crore.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended Ranya Rao after she arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and was immediately taken into custody.

A court handling economic offenses later remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days.

Ranya, in a confession, said she was caught at the airport with 17 gold bars.

Reports claim Ranya travelled to Dubai 27 times in the last year bringing her under the scanner of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

A court handling economic offenses later remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days.

According to DRI sources, Rao had been under watch due to her frequent overseas trips, the report said.