Ranya Rao gold smuggling case NEW DELHI: Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, popularly known as Ranya Rao, has been sent to judicial custody till March 24 in connection with an alleged Rs 12 crore gold smuggling case. The development comes amid fierce political battle in Karnataka, with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP exchanging accusations over alleged favoritism and cover-ups.BJP alleges minister’s role, Congress hits backThe BJP has alleged that a prominent minister in chief minister Siddaramaiah’s government is shielding Ranya Rao, suggesting a deep-rooted nexus in the smuggling operation. Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra, in a post on ‘X’, called it “one of the biggest gold heists in recent times,” blaming the Congress government for “churning out scandals in increasingly innovative ways.”Vijayendra further claimed that such large-scale smuggling could not have occurred without the involvement of influential figures within the government. He warned that any attempts to suppress the investigation would backfire, especially with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stepping in.Meanwhile, the Congress has turned the tables on the BJP, revealing that the previous BJP government had allotted 12 acres of land in Sira, Tumakuru, to Ranya Rao’s company, Ksiroda India, for a steel plant in February 2023. Minister M B Patil shared official documents to back the claim, suggesting that the BJP, now raising questions, had granted land to the same individual they were accusing of a crime.Government defends probe, DRI arrests hotelier’s sonState home minister G Parameshwara urged patience, stating that with both state and central agencies involved, the truth would emerge. “Neither I nor the government can comment until the investigation is complete,” he said.Meanwhile, in a fresh twist, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths arrested a man linked to the case. Sources say the arrested individual is the son of a well-known hotelier in Bengaluru, adding another layer to the unfolding controversy.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao sent to judicial custody till March 24 in Rs 12 crore gold smuggling case | India News
