Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has placed DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao under suspension with immediate effect, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration.
News channels beamed video on Monday, purportedly showing Rao in a compromising position with women.
The video went viral in the social media as well. Rao sought to reject the videos outright, terming them “fabricated and false”.
In the suspension order, K V Ashoka, Under Secretary, Karnataka Government, said, “Whereas, vide videos and news reports widely broadcast on public news channels and media platforms, it is observed that Dr K Ramachandra Rao, DGP, DCRE, has acted in an obscene manner which is unbecoming of a government servant and also causing embarrassment to the government.”
“Whereas, the state government has examined the said matter referred above, and is convinced that the conduct of the officer mentioned violates Rule 3 of All India Services (Conduct) rules, 1968 and the state government is prima facie satisfied that it is necessary to place Dr Ramachandra Rao under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry,” the order stated.
The order also stated that during his suspension, Rao will be paid a subsistence allowance in accordance with Rule 4 of the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, and that he may not leave the headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the state government.
The video purportedly shows an officer in uniform engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a woman during working hours, allegedly filmed in his office. According to police sources, the purported video was shot in 2017, when Rao was Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Northern Range.
However, Rao said Monday that false information was being spread about him. “I am shocked… It is a fabricated and fake video. I will speak to my advocate before initiating legal action. An investigation needs to be conducted into the matter,” he said.
Rao courted controversy in 2025 when his stepdaughter, Kannada actor Ranya Rao, was arrested in a gold smuggling case. The 1993-batch IPS officer was sent on compulsory leave over the allegations that he allowed Ranya to bypass security checks at the airport. In August, he was recalled and posted as DGP.
