The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched an investigation into the sensational gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao.
Sources confirmed that the ED has conducted searches and raids at eight locations in Bengaluru and other places. More details are yet to emerge in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was also conducting raids at nine locations across Bengaluru, targeting the flats and properties of Ranya Rao’s husband, Jatin Vijaykumar Hukkeri. On Tuesday, Jatin obtained an interim order from the High Court restraining the DRI from arresting him.
Sources revealed that investigations have found that Ranya Rao had booked round-trip tickets from Bengaluru to Dubai using Jatin Hukkeri’s credit card, raising suspicions about his involvement in the gold smuggling case.
Meanwhile, Home Minister G. Parameshwara, speaking to the media in Bengaluru, defended the state government’s decision to withdraw the probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into police involvement in the gold smuggling case within 24 hours of ordering it.
“I had ordered the CID to investigate the case. However, at the same time, the Chief Minister had directed the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to conduct an investigation, as DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, Ranya Rao’s stepfather, is an IPS officer. Since two parallel investigations were not necessary, we decided to withdraw the CID probe,” Parameshwara stated.
When questioned about a recently surfaced photograph showing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and himself attending Ranya Rao’s wedding, Parameshwara reacted angrily, saying he had attended thousands of weddings, including this one.
Sources confirmed that based on a complaint by the DRI, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in Delhi has officially registered an FIR in the gold smuggling case and has intensified its probe.
Commenting on the decision to withdraw the CID probe, senior BJP MLA from Bengaluru S.R. Vishwanath suggested that the government might be afraid that if the CID investigation continued, the involvement of politicians and prominent individuals would be exposed, leading to embarrassment. “As soon as the government realized that the probe could cause embarrassment, they withdrew the order,” he alleged. (IANS)
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