Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has withdrawn the CID’s investigation into police involvement in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case. Initially, the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was assigned to probe protocol violations at Bengaluru International Airport, but the Home Ministry has now revoked the order.
This decision comes two days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the high-profile 14-kg gold smuggling case, which has been making headlines for over a week.
Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru International Airport with 14 kg of gold concealed under her clothes and bandages. Following questioning by state police, she was remanded to 14 days in judicial custody.
She has alleged that she was “verbally tortured” and denied rest during the first 24 hours of her custody.
Her lawyer has raised concerns over multiple protocol violations during her arrest, including the failure to inform her of her legal rights.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which is also investigating the case, has revealed that large sums of money were funneled through hawala transactions, and they are now probing that financial network.
According to the DRI, the smuggling operation was part of a larger syndicate and was allegedly facilitated by the State Protocol Officer. Investigators claim that Ranya Rao was able to bypass immigration and clear the Green Channel with the officer’s assistance.
“We intercepted her after she crossed the Green Channel,” the DRI counsel stated. “She had no intention of declaring the gold she was carrying.”
