World · South & Central Asia · 8 hrs ago
Ranya Rao’s VIP visit to Karnataka temple draws criticism
Actress Ranya Rao received VIP treatment at Hasanamba Temple in Hassan, Karnataka, on October 31.
She visited with her family, including her stepfather, retired police chief K. Ramachandra Rao.
Officials arranged a special vehicle to take the group to the temple, and some accounts said they had police protection.
Rao is accused in a gold smuggling case and is currently out on bail.
Investigators say she was arrested while trying to smuggle gold from Dubai to Bengaluru, and she has been fined 102 crore rupees.
The special access drew criticism from devotees and the BJP, which faulted the Karnataka government.
The accounts give no details of any official response or next steps.
Actor Ranya Rao, accused in a gold smuggling case, received VIP treatment during a visit to Hasanamba Temple in Hassan, Karnataka.
She visited the temple with family members, including her stepfather, retired DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, on October 31.
Reports said she travelled in an official protocol vehicle and was accompanied by police; The Hindu said district officials arranged a special vehicle.
The visit drew criticism from devotees and social media users, and the BJP criticised the Karnataka government.
Ranya was arrested in 2025 after authorities found 12.56 crore rupees’ worth of gold, according to one report; she was later fined 102 crore rupees.
- Who
- Actor Ranya Rao, accused in a gold smuggling case, visited with family members, including retired DGP K. Ramachandra Rao.
- What
- She received VIP treatment and darshan at the temple.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Hasanamba Temple in Hassan district, Karnataka.
- Why
- The sources do not explain why she received VIP treatment; reports say officials arranged transport, while other accounts cite an official protocol vehicle and police escort.
BJP critics
Karnataka government
VIP treatment
BJP critics
BJP leaders criticised the government over special treatment for a gold-smuggling accused person.
Karnataka government
The sources do not report a response from the government defending the treatment.
Ranya Rao was arrested with 12.56 crore rupees’ worth of gold, according to Kerala Kaumudi.
Rao and her family visited Hasanamba Temple in Hassan.
The visit drew criticism from devotees and social media users, and the BJP criticised the Karnataka government.
- Temple
- Hasanamba Temple, Hassan district, Karnataka
- Visit date
- October 31, 2026
- Family member
- Retired DGP K. Ramachandra Rao
- Reported fine
- 102 crore rupees
- Gold seized at arrest
- 12.56 crore rupees’ worth of gold, according to Kerala Kaumudi
4 sources
സ്വർണക്കടത്ത് കേസിൽ പ്രതിയായ നടിക്ക് ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ വിഐപി ദർശനം; പൊലീസ് സുരക്ഷ, വൻ വിമർശനം
102 കോടി പിഴയൊടുക്കേണ്ട സ്വർണക്കടത്ത് പ്രതിക്ക് ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ പോലീസ് സംരക്ഷണത്തിൽ വിഐപി ദർശനം നല്കിയതായി പരാതി; സർക്കാരിനെതിരെ ബിജെപി
സ്വർണക്കടത്ത് കേസ് പ്രതിയായ സിനിമാ നടിക്ക് ക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ വിഐപി ദർശനം; വിമർശനം
Accused in gold smuggling case gets VIP treatment in Hassan
What people are saying
Perhaps Ranya Rao is a VIP in the eyes of the state government, and the Congress government will see her that way.
Perhaps Ranya Rao is a VIP in the eyes of the state government. The Congress government will see her that way.
Posts on X
Hassan, Karnataka: Actress Ranya Rao, an accused in the gold smuggling case and currently out on bail, visited Hassanamba Temple in Hassan with her family. She was reportedly provided a protocol vehicle for darshan
The irony is hard to miss. GOLD SMUGGLING ACCUSED GETS GOLD STANDARD RED CARPET VIP TREATMENT! Actress Ranya Rao, arrested in a Rs 100-crore-plus gold smuggling case and currently out on bail, gets VIP darshan at Karnataka’s Hasanamba temple. Escorted in an official protocol