Bengaluru: Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in March 2025 after being caught with 14.2 kg of gold at Bengaluru airport, has triggered a political controversy following her reported VIP treatment during a visit to the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan district.
Rao visited the famous temple on October 31 along with her stepfather, retired Director General of Police K Ramachandra Rao, and other family members. She reportedly arrived in a protocol vehicle and offered prayers to Goddess Hasanamba.
The reported arrangements drew criticism, with questions being raised over the use of official protocol facilities for the actor and her family. The issue soon became a political flashpoint, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC CT Ravi targeting the Congress-led Karnataka government.
Ravi questioned why Rao was allegedly given preferential treatment despite her involvement in a high-profile gold smuggling case. His remarks have brought renewed attention to the actor’s legal troubles and the circumstances surrounding her temple visit.
CT Ravi questions protocol arrangements
Reacting to the reported VIP arrangements, BJP MLC CT Ravi criticised the state government and suggested that the actor had been treated as a VIP.
“Perhaps, in the view of the state government, Ranya Rao is a VIP. The Congress government may have considered her a VIP,” Ravi was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
His comments were directed at the Congress government over the protocol vehicle reportedly used during the temple visit.
The controversy centres on the reported use of a vehicle and arrangements associated with her stepfather, K Ramachandra Rao, a retired police officer who previously served as Director General of Police.
The incident has raised questions about whether official protocol facilities were extended to the actor and her family during the visit. However, the reported arrangements and the political criticism should be distinguished from any established finding of wrongdoing in connection with the temple visit.
Ranya Rao’s arrest in 14.2 kg gold case
Ranya Rao was arrested in March 2025 after officials caught her allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold through Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.
According to reports about the case, some of the gold was being worn by the actor, while the remaining quantity was concealed in her clothing. The seizure led to an investigation into a suspected gold smuggling network operating between Dubai and Bengaluru.
Investigators subsequently examined allegations that Rao was part of a larger syndicate involved in bringing gold into India and distributing it through domestic channels.
Reports on the investigation stated that she allegedly received substantial commissions for smuggling gold. The amount cited was approximately Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for every kilogram of gold transported.
The case attracted widespread attention because of the quantity of gold seized and the allegations of an organised network involving multiple people.
ED chargesheet alleges 127 kg gold smuggled
Rao was also named in the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet in connection with the alleged Rs 102-crore gold smuggling case.
The chargesheet alleged that the syndicate had smuggled more than 127 kg of gold into India over a period of one year. The gold was allegedly disposed of in the domestic market through a network of handlers and jewellers.
The investigation focused on the alleged movement of gold from overseas locations into India and the mechanisms used to distribute it after it entered the country.
The alleged involvement of multiple handlers and jewellers indicated the scale of the suspected operation. The chargesheet also brought the financial aspects of the case into focus, including the alleged commissions and proceeds associated with the smuggling activities.
The allegations form part of the ongoing legal proceedings and should not be treated as a final determination of guilt.
DRI imposes Rs 102 crore fine
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) imposed a fine of Rs 102 crore on Rao in connection with the gold smuggling case.
The action added another major development to the case, which has involved investigations into the seized gold, the alleged smuggling network and the financial transactions linked to the operation.
The case has remained in the public eye because of the scale of the seizure and the allegations against the actor. Her reported visit to the Hasanamba Temple has now brought her back into the political spotlight.
Temple visit turns into political controversy
The Hasanamba Temple in Hassan is a prominent religious destination in Karnataka. Its annual opening attracts devotees from different parts of the state, with large numbers visiting to offer prayers to Goddess Hasanamba.
Rao’s visit with her family on October 31 would ordinarily have been a personal religious occasion. However, the reported use of a protocol vehicle and the presence of her retired police officer stepfather brought the arrangements under scrutiny.
Ravi’s criticism has turned the incident into a political issue, with the BJP questioning the Congress government’s handling of the reported protocol facilities.
The controversy also highlights the public sensitivity surrounding preferential access and official privileges, particularly when the individual concerned is linked to a high-profile criminal investigation.
While the political debate over the temple visit continues, the gold smuggling case remains a separate legal matter. The allegations detailed by investigating agencies and the action taken by the DRI will be subject to the relevant legal processes.