Ranya Rao writes letter to ADG (DRI) from prison, claims innocence, alleges ill-treatment by investigating officers in gold smuggling case

She claimed that the circumstances surrounding her arrest were unjust, and she was neither involved in nor aware of the illegal activities she is accused of. Moreover, she claimed that the officials handling her case ignored key evidence and failed to follow due process.

In a letter to the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao has alleged misconduct and ill-treatment by the investigating officers. 

Rao penned the letter from inside the Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara in Bengaluru where she is in judicial custody.

She was allegedly found carrying over 14 kg of gold when she arrived at Kempegowda International airport from Dubai, and was arrested on March 2.

In a letter written on March 6 submitted through prison authorities, the contents of which were accessed by The Hindu, she has alleged procedural violations and personal grievances stemming from the case against her.

In the letter, she claimed that while she landed from Dubai, the authorities implicated her in the case without sufficient evidence. She alleged that her detention from inside the aircraft was carried out unfairly, with officials failing to properly verify the facts before making her arrest. 

Rao further stated that after being apprehended, she was subjected to treatment that violated legal and ethical norms. She alleged, “I was slapped 10 to 15 times by the officers, and forced to sign 40-page typed papers admitting to smuggling.“

She claimed that the circumstances surrounding her arrest were unjust, and she was neither involved in nor aware of the illegal activities she is accused of. Moreover, she claimed that the officials handling her case ignored key evidence and failed to follow due process.