A widely circulated image showing Kannada actor Ranya Rao with bruised and swollen eyes has sparked speculation that she may have been assaulted during or after her arrest. However, Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chaudhary has stated that a formal probe cannot be initiated until a complaint is filed.
Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday night for smuggling 14.2 kg of gold bars, valued at Rs 14.56 crore. She is currently in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
In response to the viral image showing Ms. Rao’s bruised face, Chaudhary condemned the alleged assault but emphasized that the Commission cannot act without a formal complaint. “If she writes to the commissioner or sends a letter to me requesting an investigation, we will approach the relevant authorities to support her and ensure a proper inquiry is conducted. That’s all the Commission can do,” she said. “Since no complaint has been filed, I cannot comment further.”
Chaudhary stressed that anyone responsible for the assault should be held accountable. “No one has the right to assault anyone, whether it’s a woman or anyone else. We must let the investigation proceed, and the law will take its course,” she added.
Ranya Rao, who made her acting debut in the 2014 film Maanikya, came under suspicion by DRI officials after making her fourth trip to Dubai in just 15 days. Over the past year, she reportedly made 27 trips to Dubai. According to sources, she used to wear some of the gold and conceal the rest in her clothing to evade detection.
Following her arrest, investigators raided her home and seized gold jewelry worth over Rs 2 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
Her stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, has denied any involvement in her illegal activities. In a statement released Wednesday, he expressed shock and devastation over the news of his stepdaughter’s arrest. He also clarified that there has been no “black mark” on his career and that he had not been in touch with Ranya since her marriage four months ago. He further stated that he was unaware of her and her husband Jatin Hukkeri’s business dealings.
In a leaked statement, Ranya Rao has admitted to carrying 17 gold bars during her trips and has provided details of her international travels to locations including the Middle East, Dubai, and some Western countries.
