Ranya Rao gets VIP entry at Hasanamba Temple, sparks row over protocol
Synopsis
Actress Ranya Rao — still facing a ₹102 crore gold smuggling case — visited the Hasanamba Temple in Hassan with what critics say were VIP protocol privileges tied to her stepfather's retired DGP rank. BJP MLC C.T. Ravi called it out directly, accusing the Congress-led Karnataka government of treating a criminal accused as a VIP. The incident has reignited questions about how institutional access and retired-officer perks can shield accused individuals from ordinary due process.
Key Takeaways
Ranya Rao , accused in a ₹102 crore-plus gold smuggling case , visited Hasanamba Temple in Hassan, Karnataka on Saturday.
She reportedly entered via a protocol vehicle, with facilities extended on account of her stepfather, retired DGP K.
Ravi slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government, saying it had treated Ranya Rao as a 'VIP'.
Ranya Rao was arrested on 3 March 2025 at Kempegowda International Airport , carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars from Dubai.
She was held under the COFEPOSA Act for approximately a year at Bengaluru Central Prison after being granted statutory bail.
The Hassan district administration has not issued a formal clarification on the basis of the protocol arrangement.
Actress Ranya Rao, an accused in a ₹102 crore-plus gold smuggling case, visited the renowned Hasanamba Temple in Karnataka's Hassan district on Saturday, 1 November 2025, sparking a political controversy after the Hassan district administration reportedly facilitated her entry through a protocol vehicle — privileges ordinarily extended to her stepfather, retired Director General of Police K. Ramachandra Rao. The visit drew immediate public criticism and political pushback.
What Happened at the Temple
Ranya Rao arrived at the Hasanamba Temple dressed in traditional attire, accompanied by K. Ramachandra Rao and other family members. According to reports, she was allowed darshan through a protocol entry arrangement tied to her stepfather's former rank. When approached by media personnel at the site, she declined to comment on either the visit or the controversy surrounding it.
Political Backlash Over Protocol Arrangements
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Council C.T. Ravi sharply criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government over the arrangements. 'Perhaps, in the view of the state government, Ranya Rao is a VIP. The Congress government may have considered her a VIP,' he said. The remarks added fuel to an already simmering debate about whether a person facing serious criminal allegations should receive state-facilitated privileges at a public religious site.
The Gold Smuggling Case: Background
Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardhini Ranya, was arrested in March 2025 after she was intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on 3 March 2025 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru upon returning from Dubai. She was found carrying approximately 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars. Investigations subsequently revealed that she was allegedly part of an international smuggling syndicate responsible for bringing over 127 kg of gold into India across multiple Dubai trips.
Although a special court granted her statutory bail, the Central government invoked the stringent COFEPOSA Act (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) for preventive detention, resulting in her spending roughly a year at Bengaluru Central Prison.
About the Hasanamba Temple
The Hasanamba Temple, one of Karnataka's most revered shrines, opens only once a year for a limited darshan period. The temple opened its doors on Thursday, drawing thousands of devotees from across the state. A long-standing belief holds that the lamp in the closed sanctum remains lit throughout the year, the flowers inside do not wither, the prasad stays fresh, and food offerings do not spoil — traditions that make the brief annual opening a significant religious occasion.
What the Row Signals
This comes amid broader public scrutiny over how accused individuals with influential family connections navigate institutional systems. Critics argue that extending protocol-level access to someone facing allegations in a high-profile smuggling case — regardless of the underlying entitlement — sends a troubling signal. The Hassan district administration has not issued a formal clarification on the basis of the protocol arrangement as of Saturday.
Point of View
But the deeper accountability question falls on the Hassan district administration. If protocol privileges are formally transferable to family members of retired officials, that policy itself warrants public scrutiny — not just in this case.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ranya Rao and what is the gold smuggling case against her?
Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardhini Ranya, is a Kannada actress arrested on 3 March 2025 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after DRI officials found her carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars from Dubai. Investigations allege she was part of an international syndicate that smuggled over 127 kg of gold into India across multiple trips, with the total case value pegged at over ₹102 crore.
Why did Ranya Rao's Hasanamba Temple visit spark controversy?
The Hassan district administration reportedly allowed her to enter the Hasanamba Temple through a protocol vehicle — facilities ordinarily extended to her stepfather, retired DGP K. Ramachandra Rao. Critics and opposition politicians argued it was inappropriate to extend VIP access to a person facing serious criminal smuggling allegations.
What is the COFEPOSA Act and why was it invoked against Ranya Rao?
The COFEPOSA Act (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) allows the Central government to order preventive detention of individuals accused of foreign exchange violations or smuggling. It was invoked against Ranya Rao after a special court had already granted her statutory bail, resulting in her detention at Bengaluru Central Prison for approximately a year.
What is the Hasanamba Temple and why does it attract large crowds?
The Hasanamba Temple in Hassan, Karnataka, is a revered Hindu shrine that opens for public darshan only once a year for a limited period. A widely held belief says the lamp inside the closed sanctum stays lit throughout the year, flowers do not wither, and food offerings remain fresh — making the annual opening a major religious event drawing thousands of devotees from across Karnataka.
Has the Karnataka government responded to the controversy?
As of Saturday, neither the Congress-led Karnataka government nor the Hassan district administration had issued a formal clarification explaining the basis for the protocol arrangement extended to Ranya Rao. BJP MLC C.T. Ravi's criticism has so far gone unanswered by official spokespersons.
