India, March 13 -- Kannada actor Ranya Rao's alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case has triggered a political slugfest in Karnataka with the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP trading charges of favouritism and cover-up.

BJP has raised concerns over the Karnataka government's decision to withdraw the CID probe into the high-profile gold smuggling case. The party has also alleged the involvement of an influential minister in shielding the actor.

BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra, in a post on X, said, "Media reports about the involvement of a prominent minister in @siddaramaiah's government in one of the biggest gold heists in recent times come as no surprise-especially given this government's track record of churning out s...