Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 10: Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was recently arrested for smuggling gold worth Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai, had been allotted industrial land to set up a steel plant by the previous Karnataka government in early 2023. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) confirmed this on Sunday.
Ranya, the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was caught with gold bars at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Subsequent raids at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence announced the total seizure in the case at Rs 17.29 crore, delivering a major blow to organised gold smuggling networks.
The KIADB’s statement came in response to reports about the allotment of 12 acres of industrial land to Ranya’s company, Ksiroda India Private Limited, in the Sira Industrial Area of Tumakuru district. The land was sanctioned by the BJP-led government on January 2, 2023, during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting.
The approval allowed Ksiroda India to establish a manufacturing unit for steel products, including TMT bars and rods, with an investment proposal of Rs 138 crore. The project was expected to generate employment for around 160 people.
The minister for medium and large industries, MB Patil, released the final government notification dated February 22, 2023, highlighting the project’s anticipated economic impact. However, the land allotment by the previous government has now come under scrutiny due to Ranya’s involvement in the smuggling case.
Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, has not yet commented on the situation.
The arrest of Ranya and the land allocation revelation have sparked political debate, especially as the Congress government, which took office in May 2023, examines previous industrial approvals. Further investigations into the gold smuggling case and potential connections with the land deal are underway.