Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao Suspended After Obscene Video Circulates Online

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has suspended DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao with immediate effect, pending an inquiry, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration. News channels on Monday aired videos purportedly showing Rao in compromising positions with women, which also went viral on social media. Rao has denied the allegations, calling the videos "fabricated and false". In an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), the government noted that reports and videos widely circulated on television and digital platforms showed the senior IPS officer acting in an "obscene manner", prompting disciplinary action. The order stated: "It is observed that Dr. K Ramachandra Rao has acted in an obscene manner which is unbecoming of a Government Servant and also causes embarrassment to the Government." The state government found that Rao’s conduct violated Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and decided it was necessary to place him under suspension pending inquiry.

During the suspension, Rao will receive a subsistence allowance under Rule 4 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The order also restricts his movement, stating that he should not leave his headquarters without written permission from the state government.

Rao is the stepfather of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao, who is accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over 12.56 crore rupees from Dubai along with businessman Tarun Raju and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain. Ranya was apprehended at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, 2025, with 14.8 kilograms of gold. Investigations revealed she made 45 solo trips to Dubai between 2023 and 2025, raising suspicions of her involvement in a wider smuggling network. She is currently in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Jail.