Constable alleges Ranya Rao's stepfather had ordered to provide protocol assistance

Kannada actress Ranya Rao was recently arrested on charges of gold smuggling. Now a new twist has come in this case. A protocol officer has recently made a shocking revelation in this case. According to the India Today report, the protocol officer claims that Ranya's stepfather and Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao had ordered him to help Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

Protocol officer Basavaraj was a constable. He was posted at the Kempegowda Airport Police Station. According to him, he was acting in accordance with the specific directions of DGP Ramachandra Rao. His task was to facilitate Ranya's entry and exit process to the airport. Basavaraj said that he was telephoned by Ranya at 6.20 pm when Ranya was arrested. Ranya told him that she was landing in Bengaluru from Dubai and was in need of protocol help, according to Basavaraj.

It is worth noting that Basavaraj was at the airport as Ranya was leaving. That is when officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) took the actress into custody. Officials from DRI questioned Basavaraj on March 4. The officials summoned him after Ranya was detained. The remand application presented in court has incorporated what was stated by Basavaraj. While interrogated, Basavaraj has denied any role in gold smuggling. According to him, he was just helping Ranya as per orders from his seniors.

In his statement, Basavaraj has said that he has known Ranya for the last few years, but their relationship is only professional. He knew her because of his duty at the airport. He said that he had given protocol help to Ranya three-four times, but he does not remember the exact dates. DRI officials had seized gold biscuits at the airport in Basavaraj's presence. Yet Basavaraj clearly said that he did not know anything about Ranya's smuggling activities. Basavaraj says that he has nothing to do with this matter.