Ranya Rao: Officials used to pick up Ranya Rao's luggage at the airport, she used to get orders from seniors; this is how she used to dodge the gold smugglers
Ranya Rao: During the hearing on the bail plea of kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was caught at Bengaluru airport for illegally bringing gold into the country, DRI has made many revelations.
Ranya Rao: The protocol officer who helped kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested on charges of gold smuggling, to avoid investigation at the airport had received instructions from seniors. The director of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said this before a court in Karnataka. DRI also said that Ranya used to get VIP protocol and due to this, she was able to avoid investigation at the airport.
Ranya Rao, daughter of a senior police officer of Karnataka, was arrested from Bengaluru airport earlier this month with gold worth Rs 12.56 crore. gold bars were found tied in a hidden waist belt on her body.
The DRI told the court hearing Ranya's bail plea that Ranya took advantage of the VIP airport protocol made for senior officials to avoid security checks. Investigators claimed that a protocol officer used to go to immigration and also pick up the actress' luggage for fast-track security clearance. In this way, she used to avoid searching at the airport.
What arguments did DRI give
Special Public Prosecutor Madhu Rao told the court on behalf of DRI, 'The police officer has admitted before DRI officials that he had given VIP protocol to Ranya on the instructions of department officials.' Let us tell you that the court has reserved the decision on Ranya's bail plea. The court will pronounce the verdict on march 14.
During the hearing, Ranya's bail plea was opposed by the DRI. Advocate Madhu Rao said that evasion of customs duty of more than Rs 50 lakh is a serious crime. This falls under Section 135(1)(a) and (b) of the Customs Act, which makes it a non-bailable offense. He also argued that if granted bail, Ranya could flee the country and influence witnesses.
The prosecutor also said that Ranya exited the airport through the 'green channel' with the help of a protocol officer instead of the 'red channel', which shows her intention to evade customs duty. He also said that Ranya, who has worked as an actress in three films, had hidden the gold bars in her jeans, waist, and shoes and also stuck them on her thigh using a medical bandage.
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