BJP Leader Shares Siddaramaiah’s Photo with Ranya Rao: ‘Case Reaches CM’s Doorsteps’

BJP Leader Shares Siddaramaiah’s Photo with Ranya Rao: On Wednesday, the BJP leader Amit Malviya on X posted a purported image of Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah with the accused in gold smuggling case Ranya Rao, alleging that now the case has reached Congress leader's doorsteps. This was in continuation of the BJP alleging that the actor had assistance from senior government functionaries, including civil servants, in the alleged smuggling operation.

"The Ranya Rao gold smuggling case in Karnataka has now reached the doorstep of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This dated photo also features the current Home Minister, G. Parmeshwara. Ironically, the man dismissing any political links is none other than Congress’s CM-in-waiting, DK Shivakumar," Amit Malviya wrote on X.

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Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress, was nabbed by the DRI for smuggling more than 14 kg of gold at Bengaluru Airport. She had allegedly strapped the gold bars to her waist and thighs and hidden pieces of the precious metal into her shoes.

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of K. Ramachandra Rao, the DGP-rank officer. Reports stated that Ranya Rao had flown to Dubai 30 times within a year, which had raised suspicion with the agency.

All you need to know about the Ranya Rao case

The Karnataka government has appointed additional chief secretary Gaurav Gupta to look into any possible role of DGP rank officer K. Ramachandra Rao in the alleged gold smuggling activity of Ranya Rao.

The officer disclaimed any involvement, saying he was not in any way connected with the dealings of Ranya Rao and her husband.

The government also ordered a CID investigation into the alleged lapses and dereliction of duty by police officers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

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"ACS Gaurav Gupta has been appointed as the Investigating Officer to investigate the facts and circumstances leading to the availing of the protocol-related facilities and the role of the Director General of Police of the State, IPS cadre, Ramachandra Rao, Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation in this case," the order reads.

This was done after the media reported that Ranya Rao had misused the courtesy facilities of the airport meant for high-ranking officials.

"It was also reported that Ranya misused the protocol services provided to her by her father Ramachandra Rao, IPS.... and used the name and address of the person and the protocol services provided to her to evade checks at airports," the order added.

The DRI seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3. The next day, ₹2.06 crore of gold jewellery and ₹2.67 lakh in cash were seized from her house in Bengaluru by the DRI.

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