New Delhi, April 1 -- No evidence was found against the stepfather of Kannada actress Ranya Rao and Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) K Ramachandra Rao over direct involvement in the alleged gold smuggling case. Ramachandra Rao was aware of the protocol assistance to Ranya Rao, according to a report by the Hindustan Times (HT) citing a government probe report.

The report prepared by additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta was submitted to the Karnataka government on Thursday. It detailed all the allegations of misuse of police protocol and Ramachandra Rao's connection in the gold smuggling case.

"The findings indicate that while Ramachandra Rao was aware of protocol assistance being extended to Ranya Rao and that she had used h...