The CBI is investigating the Ranya Rao case, based on a letter from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Director General Abhai Kumar, which suggests the possible involvement of unknown public servants facilitating smuggling. In the CBI FIR in the Ranya Rao case, accessed by CNN-News18, the DRI has alleged a potential smuggling syndicate operating from Dubai. CNN-News18 accessed a statement given by Constable Basavaraj, who is alleged to have assisted actor Ranya Rao in evading security checks at the Kempegowda International Airport, to the DRI, revealing that DGP Ramachandra Rao, Ranya Rao’s stepfather, had instructed him to provide protocol to his family members. Basavaraj confirmed providing protocol to Ranya Rao three to four times upon her arrival and departure, including once when she informed him of her arrival from Dubai. This assistance was requested as a gesture to extend courtesies to family members of department officials, Basavaraj said in his statement. What DRI Told Court Meanwhile, the DRI on Wednesday told the court that it seized a Dubai residency card as well as foreign gold from Rao’s residence. The agency suspects that she was involved in hawala transactions, and it was important to find out who the seized cash belongs to. “We suspect that she had indulged in hawala transactions. We have to find out who the seized cash belongs to. This looks like an international syndicate. Several agencies are investigating this case. All aspects have to be investigated,” the DRI counsel told the court. Ranya Rao was remanded to 14-day judicial custody following her arrest. Her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, has distanced himself from her, stating that she lived separately and had no links to his professional career. Following her arrest, law enforcement officials had conducted a search of her residence in Bengaluru, confiscating gold jewellery valued at Rs 2.06 crore and cash totalling Rs 2.67 crore, which brings the overall worth of the seized assets to Rs 17.29 crore.