Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 10: Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Monday called the gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao one of the rarest in the country’s history, adding that the involvement of a prominent police officer’s daughter in the case further heightened its gravity.
Ranya Rao, who was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru, is accused of smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. The case has drawn significant attention, and BJP leaders are now calling for a deeper investigation into the matter.
“Ranya Rao is also the daughter of a highest police officer. Given this backdrop, it is essential for the Chief Ministers to provide the public with the truth about this case. If ministers are involved, the information must already be in the hands of the Chief Ministers,” Vijayendra said, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
Vijayendra further demanded a CBI investigation into the matter, citing concerns over potential corruption, similar to a previous scandal, and asserting that a thorough investigation will ensure justice is served. “The most prominent network is already out of investigation. The CBI is conducting a deep investigation into the matter and is confident that the investigation will reach a logical conclusion,” he added.
BJP leader Bharath Shetty echoed similar concerns, accusing the Congress ministers of attempting to intervene in the case. “The smuggling case is a definite crime. During the crime, she tried to contact various Congress ministers to get out. Now it’s almost in the public domain that two ministers are involved and tried to help her get out of the case. Now, the CBI has taken hold of the case, and surely something solid will come out,” Shetty said.
Shetty also touched on the land allotment to a company linked to Ranya Rao. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) CEO, Mahesh, clarified on Sunday that the land, located in Tumakuru’s Sira Industrial Area, was allotted to Ksiroda India Pvt. Ltd. on January 2, 2023. The allotment occurred during the previous government’s tenure and was approved during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting. The company had proposed a manufacturing unit for Steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products, with an investment of Rs 138 crore.
While BJP leaders have denied any illegality in the land allotment process, they raised questions about its timing and raised concerns over potential political interference. Shetty also criticized the state government for not maintaining proper law and order, accusing them of prioritizing appeasement politics over ensuring the rule of law.
The situation continues to unfold as the CBI looks into both the gold smuggling case and the land allotment issue, with political figures from various parties watching closely.