22 hours Ago By Rajiv Kalkod and H M Chaithanya Swamy
Ranya Rao (File photo) BENGALURU: Within 24 hours of announcing a CID probe into a police escort being provided to actor Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport , where she was arrested by DRI sleuths last week for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg gold from Dubai, Karnataka govt has withdrawn the nod for the investigation. Sources said the U-turn follows pressure from certain quarters, which feared any disclosure by the police constable intercepted by central revenue sleuths while escorting Ranya, daughter of DGP (Karnataka Police Housing Corporation) Ramachandra Rao, could put the police brass in a tight spot.
The state home department justified the withdrawal, citing another investigation being carried out by senior IAS officer and additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta to ascertain the role of the state protocol wing and that of DGP Rao. The head constable, identified as Basavaraj from the airport police station, on Tuesday gave a statement to CBI that he had “only complied with oral instructions from senior IPS officers” regarding receiving and dropping their family members at the airport, and had no clue about gold smuggling. On why the CID probe was withdrawn, a senior IPS officer said cryptically: “The CID probe was ordered by the home department; the decision to withdraw it, too, was made by the home department.
” Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi Day wishes, messages and quotes !.
