Ranya Rao’s husband seeks protection from arrest; court extends relief

Jatin Hukkeri, husband of arrested Kannada actor Ranya Rao, has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking protection from arrest in the ongoing gold smuggling investigation. The court has extended its earlier order, barring any action against him until March 24, when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is set to file its objections.

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Hukkeri’s plea argues that, despite marrying Rao in November, the couple had been separated since December due to personal issues. His legal counsel maintained that his association with Rao should not make him a subject of the investigation.

The case gained further attention after Ramachandra Rao, Ranya Rao’s stepfather and a senior Karnataka police officer, alleged that his daughter had distanced herself from the family after marriage. His statement came following her March 3 arrest at Bengaluru Airport, where she was caught smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore from Dubai.

Meanwhile, Ranya Rao remains in judicial custody and has filed a fresh bail plea in the Sessions Court after her earlier petition was rejected. The court is expected to hear the plea today.

With the DRI intensifying its probe, both Hukkeri’s legal battle and Ranya Rao’s bail plea are being closely watched as the case unfolds.