Is Ranya Rao Getting Preferential Treatment At Bengaluru Jail?

Harshavardhini Ranya Rao (33), Kannada actress and stepdaughter of an IPS officer, who was caught redhanded smuggling 17 bars of gold weighing 14.2 kilos worth Rs 12.56 Cr at the Bengaluru International Airport, is in judicial custody - lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prisons since March 3rd.

- BELLIE THOMAS

Harshavardhini Ranya Rao (33), Kannada actress and stepdaughter of an IPS officer, who was caught redhanded smuggling 17 bars of gold weighing 14.2 kilos worth Rs 12.56 Cr at the Bengaluru International Airport, is in judicial custody - lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prisons since March 3rd. Ranya's two bail petitions were rejected - initially by the Special Court of Economic Offences and later by a Sessions Court in Bengaluru recently, with the DRI officials objecting to her bail, stating it was a case compromising National Security.

According to sources from prison, Ranya is hardly staying at the barracks meant for women undertrials and convicts. She has been a frequent visitor to the jail hospital after she refused to eat jail food multiple times. According to jail sources, she spends most of her time at the jail hospital complaining of depression since her arrest in the gold smuggling case. However, sources also quipped that Ranya was unable to bear the heat of the summer at the women's barracks, and she along with a few high-profile undertrials, have complained of health issues and are cooling their heels at the jail hospital.

GOLD SMUGGLING CASE PROBE SO FAR