Kannada film actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested on March 3 at the Bengaluru International Airport while allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold on her person while returning from a visit to Dubai, was part of a syndicate, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) indicated before a special court in the process of obtaining her custody.
A special court for economic offences in Bengaluru on Friday handed Rao alias Harshavardini Ranya, 33, to DRI custody for three days. The DRI had sought her custody on the grounds of investigating the existence of a larger conspiracy and gold smuggling racket.
The DRI investigation has revealed “the existence of a syndicate to commit an offence by misusing the protocols”, the special court observed. The court also noted that the alleged modus operandi used by the actress to smuggle the 14.2 kg of gold illegally into India was “by wrapping the gold bars with the help of crepe bandage and tissues around her body parts”, which has been revealed in the mahazar drawn for the case by the DRI.
In its affidavit submitted to the court, the DRI stated that Rao tried to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold valued at Rs 12.56 crore and was trying to evade customs duty to the tune of Rs 4.83 crore by concealing the gold on her person.
Rao told her advocates that she was undergoing “mental trauma”. “I keep thinking why did I get into it. My mind keeps going back to the day at the airport. I cannot sleep…I am having mental trauma,” she told her lawyers amid tears.
The DRI told the court that it required Rao’s custodial interrogation to confront her with forensic extracts from her mobile phone and laptops. The special court ruled that the DRI was justified in its claim and “also to investigate regarding the involvement of a syndicate and misuse of protocols”.
The special court handed custody of the actress to the DRI till March 10.