The Karnataka government has ordered an investigation into the possible involvement of Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to his stepdaughter, actor Ranya Rao. The probe, led by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, will examine whether the Director General of Police (DGP)-rank officer played any role in the alleged illegal activities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the investigation following allegations of protocol violations at Kempegowda International Airport, where Ranya Rao was reportedly allowed to bypass standard security checks. Gaurav has been directed to submit his findings within a week. The government has also tasked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with examining potential lapses by police officers who allegedly facilitated Ranya’s movements.
Ranya Rao, 33, was arrested on March 3 after arriving in Bengaluru from Dubai with 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore concealed in her luggage. According to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), she had misused her father’s name to obtain an escort from the Airport Police Station, allowing her to evade frisking and other security checks.
On March 10, the Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru remanded Ranya Rao to judicial custody until March 24. During her appearance before Special Judge Vishwanath C Gowdar, Ranya claimed she was verbally abused by DRI officials during interrogation. In response, the DRI stated that its officers had only asked questions relevant to the case and offered to present CCTV footage as evidence.
The government’s order stated that ACS Gaurav Gupta would investigate the circumstances surrounding the protocol services provided to Ranya Rao and Ramachandra Rao’s alleged involvement. It further instructed the Director General and Inspector General of Police and the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department to provide all necessary documents and support for the investigation.
The order also noted that Ranya Rao’s arrest followed her alleged misuse of protocol services facilitated by her father, which helped her bypass security checks at airports.
Meanwhile, the DRI arrested another suspect, Tarun Konduru Raju, a businessman from a prominent Bengaluru family, in connection with the gold smuggling case. His arrest reportedly followed information provided by Ranya Rao during interrogation.
Ramachandra Rao, who serves as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, denied any involvement in his stepdaughter's activities. “I have no connection to my daughter’s actions. She got married four months ago and hasn’t been in touch with us since. The law will take its own course,” he said.
A 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Ramachandra Rao was promoted to the DGP rank in September 2023. His career has previously been marred by controversy, notably in a 2014 case when, as Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range, he was accused of misappropriating seized cash. While police claimed to have confiscated Rs 20 lakh from a private bus in Mysuru, merchants involved alleged that the actual amount was Rs 2.27 crore.