‘I was slapped 10-15 occasions, not given meals, signed 40 blank pages’: Actor Ranya Rao claims torture in DRI custody | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: A letter from accused Ranya Rao to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers, despatched by way of jail authorities, asserts her innocence in the case.
The five-page handwritten letter, dated March 6 and dispatched the next day, is addressed to the extra director General of DRI, HBR Layout, Bengaluru.
In the letter, Ranya, who identifies herself as Harshavardhini Ranya, 33, spouse of Jatin Hukkeri, claims she has been falsely implicated.
“I was apprehended inside the aircraft and arrested without being given an opportunity to explain. From the time of my apprehension to my production in court, I was hit and slapped on my face at least 10-15 times by officials whom I can identify. One of them said that if I did not sign the documents they prepared, they would expose my father’s name and identity, even though he was not involved. Due to immense pressure and physical assault, I signed 50-60 typed pages and around 40 blank pages.
During my DRI custody, I was not allowed proper sleep or food. I am innocent and have been falsely implicated. No mahazar, as claimed, was ever drawn, nor was my search conducted or anything recovered from me. Some Delhi officials clearly want to protect other passengers and frame me.
I request that no reliance be placed on any of the statements recorded during this period, from the time of my apprehension until I was produced in court,” reads the letter, signed by Ranya and mentioning her undertrial prisoner (UTP) quantity—2198/25.