New Delhi, March 16 -- Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, alleged she was assaulted by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials and forced her to sign blank papers. She is the key accused in the gold smuggling case.

According to news agency PTI, Ranya wrote a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, claiming that a false case was foisted on her.

She reportedly said she was wrongly accused of carrying more than 14 kg of gold upon her return from Dubai.

"Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter," Ranya Rao alleged, as per PTI.

The actress further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced befo...