Karnataka Gold Smuggling Scandal: Probe Ordered Against Actress Ranya Rao and Top Cop

The Karnataka government ordered an inquiry into gold smuggling cases against actress Ranya Rao and her father, a DGP-rank officer.

The inquiry will be supervised by Gaurav Gupta, additional chief secretary. Currently, Ramachandra Rao works as the MD in the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

The case came to light after the seizure of gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore by authorities from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport. This prompted a take by DRI, which tracked her American trips to Dubai. Further probes led to ransacking of her dwelling, from where gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and cash of ₹2.67 crore were retrieved.

Ranya Rao has been sent to judicial custody until March 24 by a court in Bengaluru. The BJP opposition party in the state has demanded fair and thorough investigations. 

Basavaraj Bommai stated that this is a bigger racket. He also called for the CBI to do the probe to expose all the culprits. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra alleged that Rao received preferential treatment at the airport that ordinary citizens do not. He implied that some powerful people must be behind the scenes, thus fuelling a greater demand for a thorough probe into the issue.