Embarking on a high-stakes smuggling venture, Kannada actress Ranya Rao finds herself at the center of a courtroom drama in Bengaluru, her bail plea teetering on the edge of rejection. The court has reserved its decision, promising a verdict by March 14th.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) stands firm against granting bail as they unveil the elaborate network that shielded Ranya from scrutiny at the airport. A protocol officer, under directives from higher-ups, facilitated her evasion of security checks.
Ranya is accused of exploiting the VIP airport protocol, intended for senior officials, to bypass security with ease, allegations the DRI supports with substantial evidence.
Investigators reveal that a state protocol officer stealthily handled Ranya's luggage through immigration, thus fast-tracking her security clearance. This enabled her to skirt mandatory searches upon arrival. With the alarmingly seamless use of the green channel, bypassing the red, the act stands fully documented in the official report.
Asserting the ongoing investigation needs corroboration, the DRI argues against bail, citing the risk of witness tampering and destruction of evidence, not to mention the possibility of Ranya fleeing the country.
Authorities confirm the recovery of gold worth several crores concealed on her person. From jeans to waistbands, shoes to soles, the wealth of contraband was ingeniously hidden. Medical bandages ingeniously adhered the gold biscuits to her thighs.
Representing the DRI, special public prosecutor Madhu Rao disclosed in court that a police officer had confessed to adhering to departmental directives for protocol provision, highlighting a systemic lapse.
Meanwhile, Ranya's defense, led by advocate Girish, argues a critical oversight—the lack of mention of interception timing in the police report. Questions linger over the marking of gold and its origin, initially designated with serial numbers by the police.
It’s noteworthy that this entire saga stems from Ranya's arrest at Bengaluru International Airport with gold bars worth ₹12.56 crores, strapped to her body within a clandestine waist belt.
