Gold smuggling case: Rejecting ministers' links an attempt to influence probe, says BJP
Bengaluru, Mar 11 (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, on Tuesday said that rejecting reports about two ministers having links to the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao even before the investigation is completed is an attempt to influence the probe.
The BJP leader was reacting to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement on Monday rejecting reports linking ministers with the gold smuggling case, calling them 'political gossip'.
"Investigating agency should say whether the involvement (of two ministers) is there or not. Even before the probe, if clean-chit is given, what value will the investigation agency have? Is a message being sent to the investigating agency to give a clean-chit?" Ashok asked.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "There are reports in the media about two ministers' involvement. People believe such things. The CBI is also investigating the case, and the state government has also ordered a probe. Even before the investigation if a clean-chit is given, this shows how the Congress runs the administration."
"...whether there is any wrongdoing (on the part of ministers) or not, should be said by the investigating agency. Even before that, if the government says such things, it looks like an attempt to influence the investigation," he added.
Ranya Rao, 34, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 upon her arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai, and gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from her.
The next day, the DRI said it seized gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 from her residence in Bengaluru.
Ranya is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-ranked police officer presently serving as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR in this case.
The Karnataka government has appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to probe the role of Ramachandra Rao, if any, in the alleged gold smuggling activity of his step daughter.
The government also ordered a CID investigation into alleged lapses and dereliction of duty of police officers at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru.
Ranya is accused of smuggling gold, allegedly misusing protocol privileges.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
