Juxtaposed scandals: Ranya Rao arrest and enduring – controversies about DGP Rao

The title, ‘Juxtaposed Scandals’, aptly describes the fresh device back, because the arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao for gold smuggling has reignited the scrutiny of her stepfather, senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, and his enjoy history of controversial incidents. Ranya, stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao of the Karnataka Bellow Police Housing Company, modified into apprehended at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Worldwide Airport (KIA) on March 3, 2025. She modified into, allegedly, carrying 14.2 kg of gold.

Following the passing of his first wife, Director-General of Police (DGP) Rao had remarried. Ranya is one in every of two daughters from his 2d wife’s outdated marriage. When Ranya arrived on an Emirates flight from Dubai, she modified into already under surveillance ensuing from her frequent world travels, despite lacking acknowledged alternate—or familial—ties in a out of the country nation.

Officers reported that she had made four journeys to Dubai internal a span of handiest 15 days, which raised major suspicions. Investigators stumbled on that she had hid the gold by carrying a gargantuan share and hiding gold bars internal her dresses. A assertion from the Directorate of Earnings Intelligence (DRI) confirmed that 14.2 kg of gold, valued at Rs. 12.56 crore, modified into ingeniously hid on her person. The contraband modified into seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Ranya’s frequent journeys to Dubai and diverse countries had already raised suspicions sooner than her arrest. Investigators from the DRI furthermore stumbled on that she had been bypassing safety assessments at the airport, reportedly ensuing from a ‘bureaucratic protocol’ linked to her stepfather’s influence. Sources counsel that this protocol may need eager expedited safety clearance procedures. Alongside Ranya Rao, T Raj, reportedly a shut affiliate, and Tarun Kondaraju, friend who accompanied her to Dubai, beget furthermore been detained in connection with the case.

The actress has been put in judicial custody from March 10 till March 24. On the opposite hand, her bail utility hearing is decided for Tuesday (March 11).

DGP Rao has denied any involvement in the case, expressing ‘shock and devastation’ upon discovering out of his stepdaughter’s arrest. In a assertion on March 5, he stressed out the integrity of his occupation, declaring that he had never been implicated in any wrongdoing. He furthermore mentioned that he had been out of contact with Ranya since her marriage four months earlier and modified into unaware of her or her husband, Jatin Hukkeri’s, alternate actions.

2014 Hawala Scandal & Rao’s Switch

Whereas DGP Rao maintains his innocence, past incidents all the device by his occupation beget raised major questions about his behavior. His occupation took a controversial turn in 2014 all the device by his tenure as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Fluctuate in Mysuru. He became embroiled in a first-rate hawala case when the police intercepted a bus and seized Rs. 20 lakh in unlawful money. A Kerala businessman later alleged that the correct sum confiscated modified into Rs. 2.07 crore.

The case modified into transferred to the CID, ensuing in the arrest of police informants and Ramachandra Rao’s personal gunman. The CID document modified into forwarded to the DG and IG of Police, prompting then tell police chief Om Prakash to raise action. Despite then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s public criticism, Rao had shunned severe repercussions. In response to an anonymous senior police officer, Om Prakash suggested handiest disciplinary action, as reported by Bangalore Replicate. Nonetheless, Rao modified into a long way from his assign as IGP of the Southern Fluctuate and reassigned to headquarters.

2017 Come upon: Allegations & Denials

In November 2018, Rao confronted additional scrutiny relating to his characteristic as IGP (Northern Fluctuate) in October 2017, alongside Vijayapura district SP, Kuldeep Jain. The inquiry focussed on the deaths of alleged gangsters Dharmaraj and Gangadhar Chadachana, suspected to be staged encounters, in Indi taluka of Vijayapura district, as reported by The Hindu.

Ramachandra Rao denied prior knowledge of the operation. On the opposite hand, allegations surfaced that he modified into attentive to the impending come across and had transferred police sub-inspector Gopal Hallur to Chadachan police role months earlier. In his defence, he told the CID that the transfer modified into procedural and denied any knowledge of a planned come across. He claimed to beget learnt of the killings handiest after the incident and ordered a detailed investigation following a complaint from the victim’s household.

Superintendent of police Kuldeep Jain furthermore denied involvement, claiming he modified into misled by local officers and that he had suggested the CID probe. The come across took place in October 2017 all the device by a police raid. Dharmaraj Chadachana modified into killed, and his brother’s physique modified into later point to in the backwaters of the Bhima river. The CID investigation printed that the operation modified into allegedly orchestrated by local Congress chief Mahadeva Bhairagonda.

The CID arrested S-I Hallur, inspector MB Asode and three constables, alongside with Bhairagonda and diverse accused folks. A cost-sheet modified into filed, reinforcing suspicions of a premeditated extrajudicial killing. Whereas Ramachandra Rao maintained that his involvement modified into exiguous to handiest official tasks, S-I Hallur’s transfer sooner than the come across stays a bone of competition.

As investigations proceed into Ranya Rao’s alleged smuggling case, questions beget emerged about whether DGP Rao carried out any characteristic in facilitating her actions by protocol advantages. The public awaits additional trends to elaborate any potential involvement.

(The creator Girish Linganna of this article is an award-winning Science Author and a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He's furthermore Director of ADD Engineering Parts, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You would reach him at: [email protected])