BENGALURU: Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s alleged involvement in the gold smuggling case has triggered a political slugfest in Karnataka with Congress and BJP trading charges of favouritism and cover-up. Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao was arrested a week ago for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 12 crore from Dubai.
While BJP alleged the involvement of an influential minister in shielding the actress, Congress countered the charge by accusing BJP of allotting 12 acres to Rao to set up a TMT steel bar factory. Karnataka minister M B Patil clarified that the land allotment did not materialise as Rao’s company failed to make the prescribed payment.
In a post on ‘X’, BJP Karnataka chief B Y Vijayendra said, “Media reports about involvement of a prominent minister in Siddaramaiah’s govt in one of the biggest gold heists come as no surprise — especially given this govt’s track record of churning out scandals in increasingly “innovative” ways! (sic)” The MLA said the blatant violation of govt protocols that allegedly enabled Rao to smuggle gold could not have happened without support of influential figures within govt.
The BJP state chief further added that if these reports were true, then it raised serious concerns about the extent of the alleged nexus.
“Any attempt by govt to shield those responsible will backfire, especially with CBI now stepping in. The truth will come out, and any cover-up will only further expose the govt’s complicity in this grievous offence,” he said.
State home minister G Parameshwara said probe was underway and with CBI also stepping in, the truth will come out. “Until the probe concludes, we cannot say anything. Neither me nor the govt can offer any such feedback,” the minister told reporters Monday.
Minister for medium and large industries, M B Patil, hit back, saying that when BJP was in office, it allotted 12 acres land at Sira in Tumakuru to Ranya Rao’s firm in Feb 2023 to establish a steel plant.
Regarding the land allotment, Vijayendra said, “It might have happened during BJP’s tenure. Let them probe. We are not stopping them.”
On Monday, Patil’s office said the 12 acres of land sanctioned a company linked to actress Ranya Rao has not been officially allocated as the company failed to make the prescribed payment.
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