Gold smuggling: Karnataka High Court grants interim relief to husband of accused Ranya Rao

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday passed an interim order directing the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) not to arrest Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri, the husband of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, in connection with the gold smuggling case registered against Rao..Hukkeri moved the High Court alleging that he is repeatedly being called for interrogation and being harassed by the DRI merely because his wife is an accused in the gold smuggling case. The matter was taken up by Justice Hemant Chandangouder yesterday when the Court warned the DRI against summoning Hukkeri without following the due process of law. Hukkeri was asked to cooperate with the probe. The matter will be heard next on March 17, Monday.The Court added that till the next date of hearing, the DRI should not take any precipitative action against Hukkeri. .On March 3 this year, the DRI officials arrested actress Ranya Rao from the Bengaluru International Airport and allegedly seized 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.86 crores from her. It is claimed that she used to carry the gold in her belt and jacket to evade inspection by the customs officials.Ranya, the stepdaughter of a DGP-rank officer in the State, is accused of using the airport exit route reserved for VVIPs.DRI officials who searched her house is also said to have seized jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and cash worth ₹2.67 crore. This took the total seizure in the case to ₹17.29 crore. Rao was remanded to three days in DRI's custody in this case on March 7 by a special court. On March 10, she was reportedly sent to judicial custody for 14 days. .Rao married Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri in November 2024. In his petition, Hukkeri claimed that DRI officials visited his residence as well on March 3 and questioned him without informing him about the allegations against his wife. A search and seizure was also conducted at his office and residence for around 15.5 hours, Hukkeri contended. He added that he was then taken to the DRI office without any prior notice or summons. He was served the summons only after reaching the DRI office, he claimed. The plea said that Hukkeri was questioned till late night hours without any information about the allegations being levelled against him by the DRI. Further, Hukkeri submitted that he was told via phone call to appear for such interrogation without formal summons. Later, on March 9, the DRI went unannounced to the residence of Hukker's parents and detained him from about 7.30 PM till 3 AM for interrogation, without any prior notice, the plea said..Hukkeri challenged these actions, arguing that DRI officials have been harassing him and have even physically assaulted him to force him to make statements to suit their case. Hukkeri maintained that he is not involved in any of the crimes alleged against his wife. Despite this, he is being continuously harassed and detained by the DRI. In view of this, he urged the High Court to intervene and issue directions to restrain the DRI from taking any coercive action against him without complying with the due process of law. .Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi represented Hukkeri before the High Court. Hukkeri's plea was filed through advocates Joseph Anthony, Shirish Krishna and Monica Patil of JSM Law Partners.