"Very serious matter": BJP's Jagadish Shettar on Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case

Speaking to ANI, Shettar said that the CBI needs to investigate the case thoroughly as news of the involvement of ministers and political leaders is coimng.

" Actress Ranya Rao's case is a very serious matter and it has to be thoroughly investigated...CBI has to investigate it thoroughly because news of the involvement of ministers and political leaders is coming," the BJP leader said.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered a probe into the allegations of 'protocol violations' at the Bengaluru International Airport and the alleged role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case linked to actress Ranya Rao.

Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary, Gaurav Gupta, has been appointed as the investigating officer in this case. The Chief Minister has instructed that the report be submitted within a week.

It is alleged that actress Ranya Rao misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to "evade" checks at airports and conduct "illegal" activities.

The official order read, "As it has been reported in the media and newspapers for the past week that the actress Mrs. Ranya Rao was illegally transporting gold bullion from Dubai to Bangalore when she was arrested by the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Also, the etiquettes given to the top officials at the airports were given to their father by the Director General of Police of the State IPS Group, the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS."

"It is reported that Mrs. Rao has misused her name and the courtesy services offered to her to evade checks at airports and conduct illegal activities. Therefore, the government considers it necessary to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of courtesy facilities and the role of Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, in this case," it said.

Investigating officer Gaurav Gupta will investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of IPS Rao in this case.

The order read, "In view of the points outlined in the proposal, Mr. Gaurav Gupta, Bha.A.Se., Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore, has been appointed as the investigating officer to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availment of the courtesy facilities and the role of Director General of Police, State IPS Squad, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, Shri Ramachandra Rao, IPS, in this case. Investigators will begin an investigation immediately and file an investigation report."

Actress Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai.

Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP K Ramachandra Rao, was produced before a special court judge on the evening of March 4 for financial offences. (ANI)