Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal Faces Charges Over Vulgar Remarks on Actor Ranya Rao
Controversial Statement Amid Gold Smuggling Case Sparks Outrage
Bengaluru:
Karnataka BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal has been charged for making vulgar and inappropriate remarks about actor Ranya Rao, who is currently in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for her alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the Bijapur City MLA made controversial comments, claiming the actor had hidden gold “all over her body.” He also suggested lapses by customs officials and hinted at the involvement of high-profile individuals in the case.
“There were lapses by customs officials, and necessary action should be taken against them. She (Ranya Rao) had gold all over her body, hiding it wherever she had holes, and smuggled it in,” Yatnal said, sparking widespread backlash.
Ranya Rao’s Alleged Gold Smuggling Operation
The 2014 Maanikya movie actress was caught at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3 while smuggling 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹14.56 crore from Dubai.
DRI officials had been tracking Rao’s frequent international travel, which included 27 trips to Dubai in the past year—four of them in just 15 days before her arrest. According to sources, she concealed gold in her clothing and even wore some pieces to evade detection.
Following her arrest, investigators searched her residence and recovered:
Gold jewellery worth ₹2 crore
Cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore
More Arrests and Alleged Connections
Alongside Ranya Rao, two others have been arrested:
T Raj, believed to be closely associated with the actress
Tarun Kondaraju, a friend who was with her in Dubai
Meanwhile, senior police officer Ramachandra Rao, who has denied any link to the case, was sent on compulsory leave after his stepdaughter’s involvement in the smuggling racket came to light.
In a statement on March 5, Ramachandra Rao distanced himself from the controversy, saying he has had no contact with his stepdaughter since her marriage four months ago and was unaware of her business dealings with her husband, Jatin Hukkeri.
As investigations continue, Yatnal’s derogatory remarks have added a new layer of controversy to an already high-profile case.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
