BENGALURU: BJP MLA Bharath Shetty on Thursday criticised the Karnataka government’s contentious resolution to withdraw the CID investigation into the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case.
He questioned the move regarding the abrupt cessation, suggesting it appeared dubious and insinuating that governmental authorities might have deliberately intervened to shield their personnel from being drawn into the investigation.

BJP MLA Dr Bharath Shetty Y said, “Everything looks fishy here. It looks like the CID officials have informed the state government that they won’t be able to help the government because a few of the government officials’ names might come up in the inquiry. Whereas, when it came to the MUDA case, though an ED inquiry was going on, Siddaramaiah went ahead with the Lokayukta inquiry to free himself from the corruption allegations. They are trying to protect somebody very big here.”
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to undertake an investigation into the Ranya Rao gold smuggling incident.
Legal advisor to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, AS Ponnanna, said, “CBI’s jurisdiction in Karnataka is virtually non-existent unless the government permits. Therefore, in order to get jurisdiction to probe an issue, they have shown it as a multi-state and, secondly, the involvement of officials of the Central government under the Central law. Therefore, they have come to investigate; let them investigate. CBI can investigate all aspects.”
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) apprehended actress Ranya Rao on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) for allegedly transporting 14.8 kilograms of gold illegally from Dubai.
On March 4, Ranya, who is DGP K. Ramachandra Rao’s stepdaughter, appeared before a special court judge for financial offences. She underwent a health check-up at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru before being taken into custody.
During interrogation, Rao stated that she travelled to Dubai for business activities. However, investigators believe her journey was connected to unlawful gold smuggling. Subsequently, she was placed in DRI custody until March 10, with an extension granted until March 24.