<p>Bengaluru: A probe led by senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta has found sufficient prima facie evidence to show that gold smuggling suspect Ranya Rao’s stepfather DGP K Ramachandra Rao was aware of the protocol extended to her, sources said.</p>.<p>Well-placed sources revealed that despite the DGP claiming innocence, there was evidence to show otherwise.</p>.<p>“When questioned by the IAS officer, the DGP in his statement denied that he knew about the protocol extension and that he had anything to do with it. The evidence has shown otherwise,” top sources told DH.</p>.<p>“The DGP also told the senior bureaucrat that he didn’t ask for the vehicle to be sent to pick Ranya up and that she must’ve directly sought for it without his knowledge,” the sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The committee focused on whether the DGP was instrumental in getting the extension of protocol to Ranya and not on whether he was involved in smuggling activities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The committee also questioned the police constable who escorted the actor from the airport on several occasions and who was with Ranya during her arrest. He said that he was acting on the instructions of the DGP,” sources added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">DRI investigations also revealed that Rao had directed Basappa Billur alias Basavaraj, the head constable posted at the airport police station, to extend the protocol to his family.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the day of Ranya's arrest, Basavaraj accompanied her when she left the airport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters on Monday, Gupta, the additional chief secretary to the government, said final details were being checked before the report would be submitted most likely by the end of the day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We have conducted a thorough investigation and during the probe, 10-15 people, as indicated in the media, were inquired,” Gupta said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Recommendations have been made in the report on the next course of action. Everyone was cooperative and there was no reason to believe there was evasion or any kind of pressure.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after she flew into Bengaluru from Dubai.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), she was found carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore on her person.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She currently remains in judicial custody, while a sessions court is hearing her bail application.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: A probe led by senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta has found sufficient prima facie evidence to show that gold smuggling suspect Ranya Rao’s stepfather DGP K Ramachandra Rao was aware of the protocol extended to her, sources said.</p>.<p>Well-placed sources revealed that despite the DGP claiming innocence, there was evidence to show otherwise.</p>.<p>“When questioned by the IAS officer, the DGP in his statement denied that he knew about the protocol extension and that he had anything to do with it. The evidence has shown otherwise,” top sources told DH.</p>.<p>“The DGP also told the senior bureaucrat that he didn’t ask for the vehicle to be sent to pick Ranya up and that she must’ve directly sought for it without his knowledge,” the sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The committee focused on whether the DGP was instrumental in getting the extension of protocol to Ranya and not on whether he was involved in smuggling activities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The committee also questioned the police constable who escorted the actor from the airport on several occasions and who was with Ranya during her arrest. He said that he was acting on the instructions of the DGP,” sources added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">DRI investigations also revealed that Rao had directed Basappa Billur alias Basavaraj, the head constable posted at the airport police station, to extend the protocol to his family.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the day of Ranya's arrest, Basavaraj accompanied her when she left the airport.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters on Monday, Gupta, the additional chief secretary to the government, said final details were being checked before the report would be submitted most likely by the end of the day.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“We have conducted a thorough investigation and during the probe, 10-15 people, as indicated in the media, were inquired,” Gupta said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Recommendations have been made in the report on the next course of action. Everyone was cooperative and there was no reason to believe there was evasion or any kind of pressure.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after she flew into Bengaluru from Dubai.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI), she was found carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore on her person.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She currently remains in judicial custody, while a sessions court is hearing her bail application.</p>