Karnataka DGP Suspended: Ramachandra Rao Barred After ‘Obscene Conduct’ Allegations, Govt Says

The Karnataka government on Monday suspended senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement), after a video allegedly showing him in a compromising position with women went viral on social media, triggering a major political and administrative controversy in the state.

Rao, who is also the father of actor Ranya Rao, has categorically denied the allegations, claiming the video is fake and fabricated.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Rao said he was shocked by the circulation of the clip. “It is all fabricated. It is a lie. The video is completely false. I have no idea about it,” he said, adding that he did not know how the video surfaced or who was behind it.

Chief minister orders probe

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the matter would be thoroughly investigated and stressed that the officer’s seniority would not shield him from action.

“We will get it investigated,” the chief minister said. “I came to know about it in the morning. Disciplinary action will be initiated. No one is above the law, irrespective of how senior the police officer is.”

Following the video’s circulation, the state government placed Rao under suspension pending further inquiry.

Attempt to meet home minister, past controversies

After the controversy erupted, Rao attempted to meet Home Minister G Parameshwara, but the meeting did not materialise. Speaking to PTI outside the minister’s residence, he again rejected the allegations, saying, “I am also trying to understand how and when this happened and who is responsible. In this era, anything can happen. I have no idea about it.” He said he would consult his legal counsel and brief the home minister about what he described as false information being spread against him.

The suspension comes months after Rao was reinstated by the Karnataka government in August last year, when he was appointed DGP of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement after the state withdrew a compulsory leave order imposed on him in March.

Rao had earlier been sent on compulsory leave following the arrest of his stepdaughter, actor Ranya Rao, in a high-profile gold smuggling case. Ranya Rao was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after arriving from Dubai. Officials seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from her possession. Subsequent searches at her Bengaluru residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery valued at ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore.

The 34-year-old actor was accused of misusing police escorts to allegedly bypass customs checks at the airport.