Accused gold smuggler Ranya Rao's company was given property by the former Karnataka government to establish a steel plant: KIADB

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) announced on Sunday that the former Karnataka government had given property to Kannada star Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, who was jailed for smuggling gold from Dubai, in February 2023 so that he could establish a steel mill.

At the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, it was discovered that Ranya Rao was in possession of gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore. Her home was also searched, and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence reported on Wednesday that it had found Indian currency totaling ₹2.67 crore and gold jewelry valued at ₹2.06 crore.

Ramachandra Rao, a senior IPS officer with a DGP rank, has a stepdaughter named Ranya. Following claims that a company connected to Ranya Rao was given 12 acres of industrial land by the board in 2023, the KIADB issued their statement.