In February 2023, the previous Karnataka government had made available 12 acres of industrial land to Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya, referred to as Ranya Rao, to set up a steel plant using gold from Dubai that she had smuggled from there.
Gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were recovered from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Officials also conducted searches at her residence and took in gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency of ₹2.67 crore from it, according to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
After news broke that the BJP-led government of Basavaraj Bommai had granted industrial land to one connected to Ranya Rao, the KIADB statement comes. According to the history of the land alotted to the setting up of a steel products manufacturing unit by Ksiroda India Private Limited, a firm associated with Ranya Rao, which the Karnataka government’s records supplied to Minister for Medium and Large Industries MB Patil, the land was allotted to Ksiroda India Private Limited (Rao Ranya) at Sira Industrial Area in Tumakuru district.
The proposal of the company manufacturing TMT bars, rods, and allied products was given approval by the government notification issued on February 22, 2023. In May 2023, Karnataka politics changed, as the BJP was ousted by the Congress which has ruled Karnataka after taking control.
The rally against Ranya Rao’s arrest and the land allocation further raises questions about their due diligence of the previous government that has been granting permission to industrial projects. The investigation into her gold smuggling case goes on, while officials investigate whether financial dealings could be linked with criminal activities.
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