Bengaluru: FIR against BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal for defamation over his remarks against Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a high-profile gold smuggling case earlier this month. The FIR registered at High Grounds Police Station, follows a complaint by Akula Anuradha on behalf of Rao alleging sexist and defamatory remarks.
Yatnal MLA from Bijapur City made controversial remarks while calling for strict action in the case. “She had gold all over her body, hiding it wherever she had holes, and smuggled it in,” he said. The case has been registered under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act for insulting the modesty of a woman.
Ranya Rao stepdaughter of Karnataka DGP Ramchandra Rao, was arrested at Bengaluru airport on March 3 with 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore, allegedly smuggled from Dubai. A subsequent raid at her residence uncovered gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. Her bail plea was rejected, and she remains in custody.
Investigations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) revealed that Rao and her associate Tarun Raju made 26 trips to Dubai this year, allegedly smuggling large quantities of gold each time. An airport protocol officer has claimed he acted under direct instructions from DGP Ramchandra Rao, who is now under scrutiny and has been placed on compulsory leave.
Meanwhile, Ranya Rao has denied the allegations, claiming she was falsely accused and physically assaulted by officials. In a letter to the Additional Director General of the DRI, she alleged she was slapped 10-15 times and forced to sign blank and pre-typed documents.
As political and legal tensions rise, Yatnal has further alleged that state ministers are involved in the smuggling ring and has vowed to name them in the Assembly session.