Bengaluru, Mar 15 (PTI): Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, key accused in the gold smuggling case, has alleged that officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) assaulted her and forced her to sign blank and typed papers.

In a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, Ranya claimed that a false case had been foisted on her.

She stated that she was wrongly accused of carrying more than 14 kg of gold upon her return from Dubai.

"Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter," alleged Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao.

The actress further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced before the court, she was slapped in the face 10 to 15 times.

"Despite repeated hitting and slapping, I refused to sign the statement they prepared."

She also alleged that she was forced to sign 50 to 60 typed papers and around 40 blank sheets.

"One of the officers told me, 'If you don’t sign, we will expose your father’s name and identity, even though we know he is not involved," the model-actor claimed.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of DGP-rank officer K. Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

She has also acted in films, including 'Maanikya'.

The DRI had earlier stated in a press release that gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai.

Following searches at her residence, officials also recovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka.

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.



Shivamogga: In an accident reported from Circuit House Circle here, two medical students were killed in a head-on collision between their motorbike and a milk transport vehicle on Wednesday morning.

The riders, Aditya of Udupi and Sandeep of Honnali, are said to have been 3rd Year MBBS students. They reportedly sustained severe injuries in the accident and died on the spot. The bodies have been moved to the mortuary of the McGann Hospital for a post-mortem test.

Due to the impact of the collision, the milk packets in the transport vehicle burst open, with the milk spilling out on the street.

Traffic Police (West), under whose jurisdiction the accident occurred, are investigating the matter.