Bengaluru: Did authorities use ‘third degree’ methods to extract information from Kannada actor Ranya Rao? An image of hers, with bruises below the eyes, has been circulating on social media. The image has led to speculation that the actor – arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3 with 14.2 kg of gold – may have been subjected to physical torture, while in custody.
The image seems to be from Friday, when a special Economic Offences Wing court allowed the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to take Ranya into custody for three days.
According to a news channel, the actor had allegedly informed DRI officials that she suffered the injuries before her arrest from the airport. When the matter was brought to the notice of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary pleaded helplessness.
“It is highly condemnable if she has been physically abused in custody. However, we cannot take any action unless we receive a formal complaint. Unless she writes to the commissioner or sends a letter to me, asking us to look into the matter, we can only write to the concerned authorities to help and support her, conduct a proper investigation and submit a report. That is all that we can do without a formal complaint,” Chaudhary said.
The DRI has, meanwhile, maintained that Ranya is part of an organised racket, involved in smuggling gold from the UAE and other countries. Being the step-daughter of Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, she allegedly abused privileges granted to her to smuggle gold. It has also come to light that Ranya travelled to Dubai on 27 occasions over the last one year.
