BJP vs Congress political slugfest erupts in Karnataka over Kannada actor Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case

Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s arrest in a gold smuggling case has led to a political confrontation in Karnataka. The ruling Congress and the opposition BJP have accused each other of involvement in the case, which involves smuggling gold worth Rs 12 crore from Dubai.

Allegations and Counter-Allegations

The BJP has alleged that an influential minister in the Karnataka government is shielding Ranya Rao. In response, the Congress has accused the BJP of allotting 12 acres of land to her for a steel plant during its tenure.

BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra, in a post on ‘X’, 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!”



He further stated that the alleged violation of government protocols enabling the smuggling of gold worth Rs 12 crore could not have taken place without the support of influential figures. He warned that any attempt to shield those responsible would backfire, especially with the CBI now involved.

Congress Responds

State Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that an investigation was underway and that the truth would emerge. “Until the investigation concludes, we cannot say anything. Neither me nor the government can offer any such feedback,” he told reporters on Monday.

Minister for Medium and Large Industries, M B Patil, countered BJP’s claims by revealing that when the BJP was in power, it had allotted 12 acres of land in Sira, Tumakuru, to Ranya Rao’s firm in February 2023 for a steel plant. Patil’s office also shared the government’s final notification, issued on February 22, 2023, regarding this land allocation.

Ongoing Investigation

Meanwhile, sleuths from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have arrested a man in connection with the gold smuggling case. Sources confirmed on Monday that the arrested individual is the son of a well-known hotelier in the city. The investigation is ongoing, with the CBI also stepping in to probe the matter further.