Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, popularly known as Ranya Rao, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody by a special court for economic offences on Monday. The actress was arrested in a gold smuggling case and had been in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for three days for interrogation.
The DRI had earlier seized gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport. Upon being produced before the court, Ranya Rao broke down, adding to the drama surrounding the case. The actress is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
In a related development, the DRI arrested another individual in connection with the case. This person, the son of a prominent hotelier, is allegedly a partner in the gold smuggling operation with Ranya Rao. The businessman was presented in court, where the DRI was granted a five-day custody extension for further investigation.
The gold smuggling case has become politically charged, with both the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP accusing each other of favoritism and cover-up. BJP leaders, including state president B.Y. Vijayendra, have alleged that a prominent minister in the Congress government is involved in shielding Ranya Rao. They claim the smuggling operation could not have occurred without the support of powerful figures within the government.
In response, Congress leaders have refuted the allegations, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy. Minister M.B. Patil pointed out that when the BJP was in power, they had allotted 12 acres of land in Tumakuru to Ranya Rao’s firm in 2023 to establish a steel plant. Patil shared the final notification of land allocation from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to Ranya Rao’s company, Ksiroda India.
While the opposition BJP demands an investigation into the government’s possible involvement, Congress leaders have emphasized that the ongoing investigation by the DRI and the involvement of the CBI will reveal the truth. State Home Minister G Parameshwara also weighed in, stating that until the investigation concludes, no conclusions could be drawn.
(With PTI Inputs)