A special court for economic offences in Bangalore on March 14 rejected the bail petition of Kannada film actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested on March 3 on charges of smuggling 14.2 kg. gold from Dubai. Ranya was interrogated from March 7 to 10 and is currently in judicial custody at Bangalore Central Prison. Her counsel said that they would approach the sessions court on March 17 for bail.
Meanwhile, senior IAS officer and additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta interrogated the two police constables who allegedly escorted Ranya upon her arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore on March 3 after she landed from Dubai on an Emirates flight. Gupta is investigating whether there was a protocol violation. One of the arrested constables told Gupta what he had told DRI officials, that Ranya’s father, DGP Ramachandra Rao, had instructed him to escort his family members whenever they arrived at the airport.