Gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao allotted land for steel plant during previous regime: KIADB
Bengaluru(PTI): The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has said that Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was recently arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous BJP government in February 2023.
The board was reacting to reports that a company linked to the actor was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the KIADB in 2023. Sensing that the case was taking a political turn, the office of Minister for Medium and Large Industries M B Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district.
The Congress came to power after defeating the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly polls in May 2023. The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars, rods and allied products' at Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district. "The government is pleased to accord in-principle approval to the investment proposal of Rs 138 crore, generating employment to about 160 persons with the following infrastructure assistances, incentives and concessions," it said.
In a press release issued by Patil's office, the KIADB said the allotment to the company linked to Rao was done in January 2023. KIADB CEO Mahesh said on Sunday that Ksiroda India was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023, by the previous government, referring to the BJP. "The land, located in Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district, was approved for allotment during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting held on the same day, when the last govt was in power," Mahesh said. According to the KIADB press release, the company had submitted a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products, with an investment of Rs 138 crore.
The project was expected to generate approximately 160 jobs. Gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at the Kempegowda International Airport here, following which searches were conducted at her residence, and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore were also seized, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had said on Wednesday. Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao. The DGP-rank officer is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. The total seizure in the case stood at Rs 17.29 crore, including assets worth Rs 4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
