DGP Ramachandra Rao denies knowledge of stepdaughter's involvement in gold smuggling
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): DGP of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, Ramachandra Rao on Thursday denied any knowledge of his stepdaughter Ranya Rao's alleged involvement in gold smuggling, calling the situation "unimaginable".
Authorities seized gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Kannada actress Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda international airport here recently. Subsequent searches at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore, according to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
In a press statement, Rao expressed deep distress over the incident, saying his reputation has been tarnished irreparably.
He emphasised his lifelong dedication to honesty, integrity and discipline and said his commitment to public service has always been his priority.
“It is deeply distressing that, despite this lifelong dedication, my reputation and family's future are now being tarnished by something
beyond our control,” the top police official said.
“I understand that in speculative times like these, my years of hard work may be unfairly associated with these events.”
Rao further said, “I ask all of you to recognise that I too am a grieving parent. I had no knowledge of such an unimaginable situation unfolding in my life. I respectfully ask from everyone, fairness towards both myself and my family.”
The DGP assured that if any laws were violated by Ranya, legal action would be taken.
Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.
The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
The total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs 4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks.
According to DRI, the 14.2 kg haul is one of the largest gold seizures at Bengaluru airport in recent times.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
