Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Karnataka High Court restrains 39 media platforms from publishing defamatory content against DGP Ramachandra Rao, the actor’s stepfather

The petitioner contends that false and defamatory contents, affecting his reputation, are being telecast and published on various media platforms since the arrest of Ranya Rao by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 for smuggling gold from Dubai. 

The High Court of Karnataka has passed an ex parte temporary injunction restraining 39 media houses from publishing, telecasting and disseminating any content that is defamatory of K. Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Karnataka Police Housing Corporation Ltd), who is the stepfather of actor Ranya Rao, who has been arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai.

Justice H.T. Narendra Prasad passed the interim order on March 10 on a petition filed by Mr. Rao, who had questioned the order passed by the 29th additional city civil and sessions court on March 6 in merely issuing emergent notice to media platforms and adjourning further hearing on his suit till April 23, and not granting temporary injunction against the media.

The temporary injunction granted by the High Court would be in force till the next date of hearing of the petition.

The petitioner contends that false and defamatory contents, affecting his reputation, are being telecast and published on various media platforms since the arrest of Ms. Ranya by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 for smuggling gold from Dubai. 

In the petition, Mr. Rao has also sought a direction to media platforms to take down any defamatory content that has already been posted or published on their portals, website or channel.