‘Can’t sleep…having mental trauma’: Ranya Rao tells lawyers in court as DRI indicates she’s part of gold smuggling syndicate

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.

On Friday, when the actress was produced in court, she appeared with dark circles around her eyes, and broke down while talking to her lawyers in the courtroom before she was led away by a DRI team comprising women officers.

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.

The DRI had earlier told the court that Rao travelled to Dubai 27 times in the last six months and the purpose of these visits required further investigation.

The actress allegedly told the DRI during her interrogation soon after her arrest that she was a “freelancer in real estate in Dubai”. She also allegedly accepted that 17 pieces of gold bars were recovered from her possession by the DRI.

Rao is the stepdaughter of a senior DGP-rank IPS officer in Karnataka. Her frequent travels to Dubai reportedly aroused suspicion and led to the actress coming under the DRI’s radar.

“Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg were found ingeniously concealed on (her) person,” the DRI said in an official statement on the arrest of Rao, who had arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight on March 3.

The DRI, which called it “one of the biggest seizures of gold at Bengaluru International airport in recent times”, is probing whether Rao has carried similar consignments earlier.

Rao allegedly used VIP channels (protocols) to exit the Bengaluru airport with a protocol official being on hand to receive her and ensure smooth passage without the extensive checks done on regular passengers.

On her arrival at the Bengaluru International Airport on Monday, Rao was accompanied by her architect husband, whom she had married four months ago.

Following Rao’s arrest, a search by DRI officials at her residence led to the seizure of jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. The total seizure in the case stands at Rs 17.29 crore, according to the DRI. “The lady passenger has been placed under arrest under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” the DRI had said.