Gold Smuggling Scandal: Karnataka Land Deal with Actress Stalls

Karnataka’s government has not officially allocated land to Ksiroda India, linked to actress Ranya Rao due to a payment issue. Rao, recently arrested for gold smuggling, alleged mistreatment by officials. Her arrest followed a tip-off and has sparked significant legal proceedings in Bengaluru.

The Karnataka government's decision to allocate 12 acres of land to Ksiroda India Private Limited, a firm linked to actress Ranya Rao, remains in limbo due to the company's failure to fulfill financial obligations. Commerce and Industries Minister MB Patil confirmed that the sanctioned land has yet to be officially handed over.

Ranya Rao's entanglement with legal troubles deepened as she was recently placed in judicial custody until March 24, accused of involvement in a gold smuggling operation. The Bengaluru Economic Offences Court ordered her detention following allegations that she attempted to smuggle nearly 15 kilograms of gold from Dubai.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted an operation at Kempegowda International Airport, leading to Rao's arrest on March 3. Despite her allegations of harassment during interrogation, the DRI maintains that all questions were pertinent and documented. Her case is gaining significant attention ahead of the court proceedings.