The Economic Offences Court on Friday rejected the bail application of Ranya Rao in connection with the gold smuggling case.
The Kannada actor who was arrested last month from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport remains in judicial custody as the probe is underway into her alleged involvement in the racket.
Meanwhile, the second accused in the case, Tarun Konduru has also filed a bail application in the Economic Offences court which will be heard on Saturday, 3 pm, reported ANI.
He has been suspected of playing a key role in the smuggling operation, as authorities have linked him to international networks.
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No Pressure To Withdraw CID Probe: Minister
The Karnataka government had ordered a probe by the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the case but later withdrew the order for an investigation into lapses and dereliction of duty by police personnel deployed.
Following the withdrawal of the order, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday dismissed claims that there was pressure on him to hold the CID probe.
He said that since the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) ordered appointing Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to probe the possible role of Ranya’s stepfather K Ramachandra Rao, a DGP rank officer, a parallel investigation was not needed.
The minister further maintained that he was the one who immediately ordered the CID investigation into the protocol lapses as soon as the matter came to light.
“In the meantime, the Chief Minister’s Office also gave direction to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms since he (Ramachandra Rao) is an IPS officer. So we decided not to order inquiry by our (police) department and let the DPAR probe it,” Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.
(With inputs from agencies)
