'No black mark on my career': IPS officer shocked over stepdaughter Ranya Rao's arrest in smuggling case

"The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career," Ramachandra Rao, Director-General of Police (Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation) told news agency ANI.

"Like any other father, I was shocked and devastated when it came to my notice through the media. I was not aware of any of these things. I don't want to say anything more," he said.

"She is not living with us... she is living separately with her husband. There must be some problem between them... (maybe) due to some family issues," the top cop said.

Ranya Rao is his stepdaughter. The senior police officer remarried after his first wife died. His second wife has two daughters from her first marriage, of whom Ranya is one.

Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold worth over Rs 12 crore from Dubai, officials said on Tuesday.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended Rao on Monday night after receiving a tip-off, reported India Today.

She arrived from Dubai on an Emirates flight and was immediately taken into custody.

A court handling economic offenses later remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days.

According to DRI sources, Rao had been under watch due to her frequent overseas trips, the report said.

Investigators found that she had visited Dubai four times in just 15 days, raising suspicions of smuggling activity.

Authorities then carried out a targeted operation upon her return, leading to her arrest.

Officials revealed that she allegedly smuggled the gold by hiding bars in her clothing and wearing a substantial amount of it.

A significant portion was reportedly concealed inside her jacket.