Kannada Actor, Ranya Rao has alleged that she was physically tortured in jail. She has also said that she was denied food and was slapped while in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Rao was arrested on March 3, 2025, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore from Dubai. Rao has also claimed that she was arrested from the aircraft, not the airport, and was subjected to mental harassment during her interrogation. The DRI has dismissed the allegations of physical torture, stating that all procedures were recorded on CCTV. Her allegations raise a very interesting question: is her stature causing officials to try to make an example of her? Or is it helping her case remain in the national spotlight?