A probe into the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao has concluded that there is no direct involvement of her father, Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) K Ramachandra Rao, in the alleged smuggling activities. The investigation, led by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, focused on allegations regarding the misuse of police protocol and whether Ramachandra Rao had a role in the smuggling operation.
The report, which was submitted to the Karnataka government last Thursday, confirmed that Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, after Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials discovered 14.2 kg of gold bars worth ₹12.5 crore in her possession. She was arriving from Dubai.
According to a senior official familiar with the report, it was found that Ramachandra Rao was aware of his stepdaughter’s use of official protocol services and his official car. However, the investigation found no evidence linking him to the gold smuggling operation. “While he knew that Ranya Rao had used his official car and protocol services, there is no concrete evidence connecting him to any illegal activities,” the official stated.
The report did highlight that using official protocol services for a relative violated civil service conduct rules, as such services are intended solely for official use. However, any potential action against Ramachandra Rao has been left to the Karnataka government’s discretion.
Ramachandra Rao, who has served as DGP since October 2023, had previously been scrutinized during his tenure as Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range due to his name emerging in a case involving a large cash seizure.
