The troubles for Kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested in a gold smuggling case, seem far from over. In a recent turn of events, the actress has once again accused the Revenue Intelligence Directorate (DRI) officials of physically assaulting her and starving her, while also claiming that she is being falsely implicated in the case. Meanwhile, her businessman husband, Jatin Hukkeri, has approached the court seeking protection from arrest and has made a startling revelation. Hukkeri has stated that his relationship with Ranya is nominal, as she has been living separately from him since the very next month of their marriage.
The Karnataka High Court has ordered that no action be taken against Hukkeri until the next hearing, which is scheduled for March 24. Hukkeri’s lawyer, Prabhuling Navadagi, argued in court that his client had married Ranya in November but they had been living separately since December due to some issues. The DRI’s lawyer, Madhu Rao, has stated that they will file their objections on the next Monday.
This development comes after the high court had earlier directed that no action be taken against Hukkeri on March 11. Ranya’s father, IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, had earlier claimed that his daughter had distanced herself from the family after her marriage. Ramachandra Rao, who is the managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, had also disowned Ranya after her arrest, stating that he had no relationship with her.
Ranya, who was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai, has now approached the Sessions Court with a fresh bail application, after a lower court rejected her earlier plea. The actress has also written to the Additional Director General of the DRI, claiming that she is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case.
In her letter, Ranya has alleged that DRI officials had physically assaulted her, slapping her 10-15 times, and forced her to sign blank papers. She claims that she was made to sign 50-60 typed pages and 40 blank pages under duress. The DRI officials have, however, denied these allegations.
In a related development, Ranya’s stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave by the department, although no reason has been cited for this decision. Ranya is currently in judicial custody for 14 days. The case has been making headlines, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding Ranya’s arrest and the alleged mistreatment she faced at the hands of the DRI officials. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on Ranya’s bail application and the allegations made against the DRI officials.
Key Developments in the Ranya Rao Case
- Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai.
- She has accused DRI officials of physically assaulting her and forcing her to sign blank papers.
- Her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, has approached the court seeking protection from arrest and has claimed that their relationship is nominal.
- The Karnataka High Court has directed that no action be taken against Hukkeri until the next hearing on March 24.
- Ranya has approached the Sessions Court with a fresh bail application after a lower court rejected her earlier plea.
- Her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave by the department.
What’s Next in the Case?
The case is set to take a new turn on March 24, when the court will hear Hukkeri’s petition and the DRI’s objections. Ranya’s bail application will also be heard in the Sessions Court, and the court will rule on whether to grant her bail or extend her judicial custody. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what other developments will come to light and how the case will unfold.