Ranya Rao hid gold ‘wherever she had…’: Karnataka BJP MLA sparks row with vulgar comment

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case: Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal courted controversy when he remarked that Kannada actress Ranya Rao, embroiled in a gold smuggling case, hid gold ‘wherever she had holes’.

Bijapur City MLA said, “She (Ranya Rao) had gold all over her body, hiding it wherever she had holes, and smuggled it in”.

Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3, 2025, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru upon her arrival from Dubai. She was allegedly caught smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore.

Amid reports of two ministers allegedly having links to the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, Karnataka BJP MLA also claimed that he would reveal the names of those involved before the Assembly.

“Tomorrow, I will disclose in the Assembly who all are involved, who has links with Ranya, and what kind of security was provided to her. We have gathered all the information, including where she got the gold from… I will reveal everything,” Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal told reporters on Sunday.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case

Ranya Rao, 34, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 upon her arrival at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai. Authorities seized 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from her.

The next day, the DRI seized gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore from her residence in Bengaluru.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in this case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on the FIR filed by the CBI and the case registered by the DRI.

Ranya Rao is accused of misusing airport protocol facilities provided to senior police officials by using her stepfather’s name. She allegedly used these privileges to bypass security checks at the airport to carry out illegal activities.

Ranya Rao alleges assault by DRI

On March 16, it was reported that Ranya Rao, alleged she was assaulted by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials and forced her to sign blank papers. She is the key accused in the gold smuggling case.

Ranya wrote a letter addressed to the Additional Director General of the DRI in Bengaluru on March 6, claiming that a false case was foisted on her.

“Your officers did not permit me to explain that I am innocent in this matter,” Ranya Rao alleged, as per PTI.

Ranya Rao further claimed that from the time she was detained until she was produced before the court, she was slapped in the face 10 to 15 times.

“Despite repeated hitting and slapping, I refused to sign the statement they prepared, Ranya said in the letter.

Stepfather DGP Ramchandra Rao sent on compulsory leave

Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s stepfather, DGP Ramchandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave.

“Sri. K.V. Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave,” said a Karnataka Government order issued on Saturday.

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-ranked police officer who, until recently, served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.