Bengaluru:
Days after Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru airport for gold smuggling, the BJP has alleged that the actor approached two ministers within the Siddaramaiah-led Congress authorities to wriggle out of hassle. State BJP chief BY Vijayendra has mentioned the “blatant violation” of protocols that allegedly enabled Ranya Rao to smuggle gold “couldn’t have occurred with out the direct assist of influential figures throughout the authorities”.
To place the BJP within the dock, the Congress has alleged that below the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP authorities, the Karnataka Industrial Space Growth Board allotted land to Ranya Rao in 2023 to arrange a metal plant.
‘Tried To Contact 2 Ministers’
Amid the row over the actor’s political connections, BJP chief and MLA Y Bharath Shetty informed the media, “When she was caught, she tried to contact some Congress ministers to make use of their affect to get out of the issue. Now it’s virtually within the public area that two ministers are attempting to assist her. The CBI has taken over the case, one thing strong will come out of it and we are going to know who’s behind this.”
State BJP president Vijayendra cited media reviews alleging the involvement of a distinguished minister within the matter. In a put up on X, he mentioned the reviews should not shocking “given this authorities’s observe document of churning out scandals in more and more ‘modern’ methods”.
Media reviews in regards to the involvement of a distinguished minister in @siddaramaiah‘s authorities in one of many greatest gold heists in latest instances come as no shock—particularly given this authorities’s observe document of churning out scandals in more and more “modern” methods!
The blatant…
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) March 10, 2025
“The blatant violation of presidency protocols that allegedly enabled Ranya Rao to smuggle gold price over Rs 12 crore – and presumably way more up to now – couldn’t have occurred with out the direct assist of influential figures throughout the authorities. If these reviews are true, it raises critical questions on how deep this nexus runs,” the state BJP chief mentioned.
“As Chief Minister, @siddaramaiah would have acquired intelligence reviews pinpointing the suspected ministers and their involvement. Any try by the federal government to defend these accountable will solely backfire, particularly with the CBI now stepping in. The reality will come out, and any cover-up will solely additional expose the federal government’s complicity on this grievous offence,” Mr Vijayendra added.
“Because the Kannada saying goes, “A cat might imagine the world will not discover if it drinks milk with its eyes closed” – however @inckarnataka authorities should not fall into such an phantasm! The persons are watching, and justice should be served,” he mentioned.
Karnataka House Minister’s Response
Responding to questions on BY Vijayendra’s allegations that Ranya Rao contacted two state ministers after she was caught, state House Minister G Parameshwara mentioned, “Now this has been handed over to CBI. Let the CBI come out with their findings. Until then, that is hypothesis.”
Requested in regards to the land allotment to the actor throughout the BJP regime, he mentioned, “Even that must be came upon. I used to be informed this was allotted when the BJP was in energy. Allow them to (CBI) discover out.”
The CBI is now investigating the sensational case that got here to mild after a Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) crew stopped Ranya Rao on the Bengaluru airport final week and recovered gold bars weighing 14 kg.
DRI has mentioned in court docket that it’s a matter regarding nationwide safety. The CBI has now joined the probe. Ranya Rao, who’s the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Okay Ramachandra Rao, is at the moment in DRI’s custody and is being questioned.
How Ranya Rao Was Caught
Ranya Rao was one step away from clearing airport safety at Bengaluru airport when a DRI crew intercepted her and recovered the gold bars. The 33-year-old actor, who began her profession with 2014 Kannada movie Maanikya, had flown in from Dubai on an Emirates flight final Monday. “Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg had been discovered ingeniously hid on particular person. The contraband, valued at Rs 12.56 crore was seized below the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962,” a DRI assertion mentioned.
The search then moved to her residence on Bengaluru’s Lavelle Street and the investigators discovered extra there. “Following the interception, DRI officers carried out a search at her residential premises situated at Lavelle Street, Bengaluru, the place she resides together with her husband. The search resulted within the seizure of gold jewellery price Rs. 2.06 crore and Indian foreign money amounting to Rs. 2.67 crore,” the DRI mentioned.
The Immigration division categorised Ranya Rao as a frequent traveller to overseas nations. On December 24 final 12 months, she went to Dubai and returned to Bengaluru on December 27. She visited the US on January 18 and returned on January 25. Between February 2 and March 3, Ranya Rao visited Dubai 5 instances.
The frequent abroad journey sparked suspicion and put her on the authorities’ radar. She made as many as 27 journeys to Dubai final 12 months and this introduced her below the DRI’s lens.