A Bengaluru court has issued an ex-parte temporary injunction against 35 media houses, barring them from making or publishing defamatory allegations against Sandalwood actress Ranya Rao, who is currently under investigation in a gold smuggling case.
The order was passed on Wednesday following a plea filed by Rao’s mother, who argued that sensationalized media coverage was violating her daughter’s right to a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. She claimed that misleading reports were influencing public perception and prejudicing the legal proceedings.
The court observed that certain media reports had crossed ethical boundaries, creating a “media trial atmosphere” that could harm Rao’s personal integrity. It further noted that exaggerated narratives and speculative headlines were interfering with the administration of justice.
“On the guise of fair journalism, the defendant media houses are telecasting and publishing news that is derogatory and defamatory, solely to boost their TRP. This amounts to a media trial and violates the accused’s right to a fair trial,” the plea stated.
Finding a prima facie case in favor of Rao, the court ruled that all media houses named in the suit must refrain from airing or publishing defamatory content about her until the next hearing on June 2.
Meanwhile, Rao remains under investigation after being arrested at Bengaluru International Airport, where authorities allegedly seized 14.2 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹12.86 crore. Further searches at her residence led to the recovery of jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore, taking the total seizure in the case to ₹17.29 crore.
The case has garnered widespread attention, with reports linking Rao to frequent Dubai trips and alleged misuse of VIP airport facilities. Her husband, Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri, has also sought legal protection, and the Karnataka High Court granted him interim relief on March 11, directing the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) not to take coercive action against him.
