Bengaluru/IBNS, March 13 -- A Bengaluru court has barred media houses from publishing and telecasting any defamatory statement against Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who has been arrested for alleged gold smuggling, media reports said.

The court has passed an order restraining 35 media houses so that the accused is not denied her right to free trial.

Ranya's father had moved the court out of concern that the sensational journalism would deny his daughter her right to fair trial.

He claimed media reports were creating a wrong image of her daughter and drawing public opinion against the actress.

Ranya, who is the step-daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 at the Bengaluru International Airport for allegedly...