Kannada actor Ranya Rao’s alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case has triggered a political slugfest in Karnataka with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP buying and selling expenses of favouritism and cover-up.
Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested from Bengaluru’s Kempagowda Worldwide Airport.(Fb/Ranya Rao)
BJP has raised considerations over the Karnataka authorities’s resolution to withdraw the CID probe into the high-profile gold smuggling case. The social gathering has additionally alleged the involvement of an influential minister in shielding the actor.
One other BJP chief Bharath Shetty recommended that the transfer to withdraw the CID probe appeared suspicious and hinted at potential efforts to defend authorities officers from scrutiny.
Talking to ANI on Thursday, Shetty stated, “Everything looks fishy here… It looks like the CID officials have informed the state government that they won’t be able to help the government because a few of the government officials’ names might come up in the inquiry. Whereas, when it came to the MUDA case, though an ED inquiry was going on, Siddaramaiah went ahead with the Lokayukta inquiry to free himself from the corruption allegations. They are trying to protect somebody very big here.”
The Congress countered the cost by accusing the saffron social gathering of allotting 12 acres to her to arrange a TMT metal bar manufacturing unit.
State Dwelling Minister G Parameshwara stated the investigation was underway and with the CBI additionally stepping in, the reality will come out.
“Until the investigation concludes, we cannot say anything. Neither me nor the government can offer any such feedback,” he instructed reporters right here on Monday.
Minister for Medium and Giant Industries, M B Patil, hit again, saying that when the BJP was in energy, it allotted 12 acres land at Sira in Tumakuru to Ranya Rao’s agency in February, 2023 to ascertain a metal plant.
In the meantime, the Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) has really helpful that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) take over the probe into the case.
Ranya Rao’s arrest
Throughout investigations, authorities seized gold bars price ₹12.56 crore from her possession on the airport. A subsequent search of her Bengaluru residence led to the invention of extra gold jewellery price ₹2.06 crore and money amounting to ₹2.67 crore.
Ranya, 34, is the stepdaughter of Okay Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-ranked police officer at present serving as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Growth Company Ltd. This familial connection has led to heightened scrutiny concerning potential misuse of protocol privileges.