Karnataka Govt Suspends DGP K Ramachandra Rao After Objectionable Video Emerges
IPS officer denies allegations, calls clips ‘manipulated’; CM seeks report from Home Department
New Delhi, Jan 20; The Karnataka government on Monday night suspended Dr K Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police in the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, with immediate effect after a purported objectionable video allegedly linked to him surfaced on social media.
Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, has denied the allegations, claiming that the videos circulating online are manipulated and do not depict any real incident.
The suspension comes amid mounting political and administrative concern over the content of the clips and their widespread circulation, which has caused embarrassment to the Karnataka Police Department.
‘These Are Manipulated Videos,’ Says Rao
Responding to the controversy, Rao told reporters in Bengaluru that the clips were fabricated.
“These are manipulated videos. No such incident has taken place. I will discuss the matter with my advocate and take a decision in this regard,” IANS quoted Rao as saying.
Following the emergence of the videos, Rao visited the office of Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara to offer an explanation. However, according to IANS sources, the minister conveyed through staff that he would not be able to meet him. Rao later left the premises.
Sources also confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the Home Department to submit a detailed report on the matter.
What the Videos Allegedly Show
The purported videos, which surfaced on Monday, show Rao inside his office, both in police uniform and in civilian attire, engaging in intimate behaviour with a woman. In one clip, he is seen kissing the woman while seated in uniform. In another, he appears wearing a suit, seated in front of the Indian flag and the police emblem.
The woman’s face has been blurred in the circulated clips, which also contain background music and captions added before being shared on social media.
According to sources, the footage was recorded more than a year ago and was allegedly captured by CCTV cameras installed in the office. There is no official clarity on why the videos were released at this stage.
Political Reaction and Past Controversies
The development has triggered sharp political reactions. Former Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra criticised Rao, calling for strict action.
“If a senior IPS officer can stoop to this level, I am short of words. These officers must be role models. They should not be spared, and action must be initiated,” Jnanendra said.
In March 2025, Rao was placed on compulsory leave in connection with a gold smuggling case involving his stepdaughter, actress Ranya Rao. He was reinstated recently. Rao has been accused of assisting her in allegedly smuggling gold and misusing his name to bypass security protocols.
The matter remains under scrutiny, with the state government awaiting a formal report from the Home Department.
