- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The 34-year-old actor, who has been remanded to judicial custody, was allotted land to set up a steel bars manufacturing plant by the previous BJP government in Karnataka
By: India Weekly
KANNADA actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case, was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days by a special court for economic offences, on Monday (10).
The 34-year-old actor was in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for three days for interrogation.
On Monday, the DRI officials produced her before the court where she broke down.
The DRI said it had on March 3 seized the gold bars worth ₹125.6 million (£1.11m) from Ranya Rao upon her arrival from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.
The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
Hotelier’s son arrested
The DRI officials also arrested one more person in connection with the gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao.
He is the son of a prominent hotelier and was allegedly a partner in gold smuggling involving the actress.
The businessman was produced before the special court for economic offences, which allowed the DRI to keep him in its custody for five days.
Land for steel plant
The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has said that Ranya Rao was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous BJP government in February 2023.
The board was reacting to reports that a company linked to the actor was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the KIADB in 2023.
State minister for medium and large industries M B Patil shared the government’s final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya’s firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district.
The company had submitted a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products.
Political slugfest
Meanwhile, a BJP leader has alleged that an influential minister was shielding her.
In a post on ‘X’, BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra said, “Media reports about the involvement of a prominent minister in @siddaramaiah’s government in one of the biggest gold heists in recent times come as no surprise—especially given this government’s track record of churning out scandals in increasingly “innovative” ways!”
The MLA said that the blatant violation of government protocols that allegedly enabled Ranya Rao to smuggle gold could not have happened without the direct support of influential figures within the government.
State home minister G Parameshwara said the investigation was underway and with the CBI also stepping in, the truth will come out.
“Until the investigation concludes, we cannot say anything. Neither me nor the government can offer any such feedback,” he told reporters here on Monday.
Regarding the KIADB land allotment case, Vijayendra said, “It might have happened during the BJP’s tenure. Let them investigate. We are not stopping them.”
Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Monday (10) rejected reports that claim two ministers have links to the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao and termed the reports as “political gossips”.
He also said that the state government has nothing to do with the case as central agencies are investigating it.
The deputy CM also said, “No minister is involved, we don’t know anything. It is all political gossip. Investigating officers will investigate in accordance with the law. We have nothing to do with it,” Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, “The central government is investigating, let them do it.”
