Yatnal was speaking to reporters when he made the vulgar comment.
Published Mar 17, 2025 | 4:55 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 17, 2025 | 4:55 PM
Bijapur City MLA and BJP leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal.
Synopsis: BJP’s Basangouda Patil Yatnal on Monday stirred a controversy with his misogynist and vulgar comment targeting gold smuggling-accused Kannada actor Ranya Rao.
Political probity in Karnataka took a major hit on Monday, 17 March, when BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal made a vulgar and sexiest comment about actor Ranya Rao, arrested in a gold smuggling case.
“There were lapses by customs officials, and necessary action should be taken against them. She (Ranya Rao) had gold all over her body, hiding it wherever she had holes, and smuggled it in,” Yatnal was heard saying in Kannada in a video that was being circulated.
Supporters who crowded around the Bijapur City MLA beamed in approval as he spoke.
Yatnal — known for outspokenness that often surpasses decency — further claimed he would name all ministers involved in the smuggling case in the upcoming Assembly session.
“I have gathered complete information about her relationships, who helped her obtain security (clearance), and how the gold was brought in. I will expose everything in the session, including which hole she hid the gold and brought,” reports quoted him.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had denied the involvement of any of the ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet.
Ranya Rao was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport for smuggling in over 14 kilograms of gold bars from Dubai on 3 March. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the agency that arrested her, said the gold was concealed in her clothing.
The actor, who claimed innocence and alleged custodial torture, has been lodged in the central prison at Parappana Agrahara, even as the state government sent her stepfather, a DGP-ranked IPS officer, K Ramachandra Rao, on compulsory leave on Saturday, 15 March.
In the video, Yatnal could be heard telling reporters that all responsible for the smuggling could be brought to the book. No one could be defended only because he is a central government employee, the MLA said, referring to the actor’s stepfather.
Yatnal, who often courted controversies, has been highly critique of BJP state president BY Vijayendra. The MLA had also demanded BS Yediyurappa’s removal when the latter was the chief minister.
He received an Election Commission notice in 2023 for labelling senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi as “vishkanya”.
In 2020, he praised a decision to scrap a wedding scheme for poor women from minority communities. He urged those who wanted the scheme to “to go Pakistan”.
He had also courted controversy by terming a freedom fighter a “Pakistani agent”. The freedom fighter invited Yatnal’s wrath with his stand on the controversial citizenship law.
