The Karnataka Industrial Space Growth Board (KIADB) has confirmed that Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was not too long ago arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, was allotted land to arrange a metal plant by the earlier Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) authorities in February 2023. The board’s clarification got here amid reviews that an organization linked to the actor was granted 12 acres of commercial land in 2023.
As political tensions rose over the matter, the workplace of Karnataka’s Minister for Medium and Massive Industries, M B Patil, launched the federal government’s last notification issued on February 22, 2023, concerning the land allocation to Ranya’s agency, Ksiroda India, on the Sira Industrial Space in Tumakuru district. The Congress authorities got here to energy after defeating the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP authorities within the Karnataka Meeting elections in Might 2023, information company PTI reported.
In line with the official proceedings of the Karnataka authorities, shared by Patil’s workplace, the approval acknowledged: “Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Non-public Restricted to ascertain a unit for manufacture of ‘metal merchandise – TMT bars, rods and allied merchandise’ at Sira Industrial Space, Tumakuru district.” The notification additional detailed that the federal government had granted in-principle approval to an funding proposal price ₹138 crore, which was anticipated to generate roughly 160 jobs.
In a press launch issued by Patil’s workplace, the KIADB clarified that the allotment of land to the corporate linked to Ranya was accomplished in January 2023. KIADB CEO Mahesh acknowledged on Sunday that Ksiroda India was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023, throughout the tenure of the BJP authorities. The land was permitted for allotment within the 137th State Stage Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) assembly on the identical day, Mahesh mentioned, as per PTI.
The Directorate of Income Intelligence (DRI) had earlier revealed in a press release that Ranya was caught smuggling gold bars price ₹12.56 crore on the Kempegowda Worldwide Airport in Bengaluru. Following searches at her residence, investigators seized gold jewelry price ₹2.06 crore and Indian forex amounting to ₹2.67 crore. The overall worth of property seized within the case stands at ₹17.29 crore. The DRI described the case as a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks, NDTV reported.
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‘Ranya Rao Tried To Contact 2 Congress Ministers When Caught’: BJP MLA Alleges
Because the case took a political flip, BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty alleged that Ranya had tried to contact two Congress ministers after her arrest. “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 nearly within the public area that two ministers try to assist her. The CBI has taken over the case; one thing strong will come out of it, and we’ll know who’s behind this,” Shetty informed the media, as per NDTV.
State BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa additionally cited media reviews alleging the involvement of a senior minister within the case. In a submit on X (previously Twitter), Vijayendra wrote:
“Media reviews concerning the involvement of a distinguished minister in @siddaramaiah’s authorities in one of many largest gold heists in latest instances come as no shock—particularly given this authorities’s monitor document of churning out scandals in more and more ‘progressive’ methods!”
Vijayendra additional alleged that Ranya’s smuggling actions couldn’t have taken place with out political backing. “The blatant violation of presidency protocols that allegedly enabled Ranya Rao to smuggle gold price over ₹12 crore – and probably way more previously – couldn’t have occurred with out the direct help of influential figures throughout the authorities. If these reviews are true, it raises severe questions on how deep this nexus runs,” he mentioned.
The BJP chief additionally claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should have acquired intelligence reviews concerning the suspected ministers. “Any try by the federal government to protect 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,” he added.
Media reviews concerning the involvement of a distinguished minister in @siddaramaiah‘s authorities in one of many largest gold heists in latest instances come as no shock—particularly given this authorities’s monitor document of churning out scandals in more and more “progressive” methods!
The blatant…
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) March 10, 2025
Quoting a Kannada proverb, Vijayendra mentioned, “A cat might imagine the world gained’t discover if it drinks milk with its eyes closed” and warned the Congress authorities that individuals have been watching, PTI reported.
Karnataka House Minister Dismisses BJP Claims As ‘Hypothesis’
Karnataka House Minister G Parameshwara dismissed the allegations made by BJP leaders, telling reporters, “Now this has been handed over to CBI. Let the CBI come out with their findings. Until then, that is hypothesis.”
On the land allotment to Ranya’s firm beneath the BJP regime, Parameshwara remarked, “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,” as per NDTV.
How Ranya Rao Was Caught
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now investigating the case, which was first uncovered by a DRI crew at Bengaluru airport final week. Ranya, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Okay Ramachandra Rao, was intercepted whereas making an attempt to clear airport safety after arriving from Dubai on an Emirates flight.
A DRI assertion detailed the arrest: “Upon examination, gold bars weighing 14.2 kg have been discovered ingeniously hid on her individual. The contraband, valued at ₹12.56 crore, was seized beneath the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.”
The investigation then prolonged to Ranya’s residence on Lavelle Street in Bengaluru. “Following the interception, DRI officers carried out a search at her residential premises… The search resulted within the seizure of gold jewelry price ₹2.06 crore and Indian forex amounting to ₹2.67 crore,” the DRI mentioned, as per PTI.
In line with immigration information reviewed by investigators, Ranya was a frequent traveller. She visited Dubai 5 instances between February 2 and March 3 this 12 months. Final 12 months alone, she made 27 journeys to Dubai, which ultimately introduced her beneath the DRI’s radar, NDTV reported.
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