Ranya Rao Says ‘Emotionally Broken’, Denies Physical Torture By DRI

Karnataka actress Ranya Rao, under investigation for smuggling gold, broke down in court again on Monday, while submitting that she had ‘not’ undergone any physical torture while in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence custody.

Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao was arrested a week ago for allegedly smuggling gold worth ₹12 crore from Dubai. On Monday Ranya Rao clarified that she had not undergone any physical torture in the DRI custody. Rao made the submissions before a special court, in Bengaluru, which sought to know if she was physically tortured in custody.

“I was verbally tortured and threatened. I am traumatised and emotionally broken,” Ranya Rao’s statement in Bengaluru court. The DRI dismissed the charge of physical torture and said the entire procedure (involving arrest and interrogation) has been recorded on CCTV.

On 8 March, while talking to her lawyers, Ranya Rao broke down in court and said, “I keep thinking why did I get into it. My mind keeps going back to the day at the airport. I cannot sleep…I am having mental trauma.

Ranya Rao who was arrested in a gold smuggling case was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a special court for economic offences, on Monday. The actress was in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for three days for interrogation.