Karnataka: The High Court has directed the Central Government to take necessary action to prevent the media from publishing or broadcasting false and defamatory content against actress Ranya Rao and her father, K. Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-rank officer in the Karnataka government.
This ruling comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving Ranya Rao, who was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in connection with a gold smuggling case. Authorities reportedly seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from her possession. A subsequent search of her residence on Lavelle Road in Bengaluru allegedly led to the recovery of gold ornaments worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash.
On March 12, Ranya Rao’s mother, H. P. Rohini, had approached a civil court, which issued an order restraining the media from publishing or broadcasting any statements against the actress until June 2. Later, the High Court issued a similar directive based on a petition filed by her father. Rohini argued that some media outlets had continued to publish sensitive and harmful content despite the earlier court order, engaging in defamation rather than objective reporting.
During the hearing, the High Court recalled its previous intervention in the Renukaswamy murder case, in which actor Darshan is an accused, emphasizing the need for responsible journalism. In response to Rohini’s plea, the court issued an urgent notice to all media houses named in the petition and further tightened restrictions on defamatory reporting by granting interim relief to Ranya Rao.
The court also directed central investigating agencies to formulate guidelines on responsible media reporting, particularly in high-profile cases, covering print, electronic, audio, and visual platforms. The matter has been scheduled for the next hearing on April 8.
