- By Raju Kumar
- Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:40 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka DGP Video Row: Karnataka DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao was suspended on Monday, following a controversy over a video purportedly showing him in an alleged compromising position with women. Several Kannada TV news channels too aired the blurred images of women in the video.
"Wide videos and news reports widely broadcast on public news channels and media platforms, it is observed that Dr K Ramachandra Rao (KN:1993), Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, 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 is in violation of Rule 3 of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the State Government is prima facie satisfied that it is necessary to place Dr K. Ramachandra Rao (KN:1993). Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry.
Hence this order," the suspension order read.
Action After CM's Reaction
The development comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah warned of action if the official was found guilty. Reacting on the viral video, Siddaramaiah said there will be an investigation into the matter and disciplinary action will follow, asserting no one is above the law.
"We will get it investigated. I got to know about it in the morning. We will initiate disciplinary action against him. No one is above law, notwithstanding how senior the police officer is," he said.
DGP Is Stepfather Of Ranya Rao
The top police officer is the stepfather of Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, arrested in a sensational gold smuggling case and currently lodged in the Bengaluru Central Jail.
What Row Said After Video Emerges On Social Media
Meanwhile, Rao sought to reject the videos outright terming them "fabricated and false".He rushed to meet Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara but the meeting did not take place. Speaking to reporters outside the minister's house, he said, "I am also thinking how and when it happened and who has done it. In this era anything can happen. I have no idea about it.”
"I am shocked. It is all fabricated, lie. The video is all false. I have no idea about it," Rao said. When reporters said that this is an old video, he said, "Old means, eight years ago when I was in Belagavi."
He added that he will explain to the Home Minister that false information is being spread.
BJP Slams Rao
Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar slammed the "disgraceful act of police officer" as "an inexcusable crime".
"Rao has committed an act that has brought a blot on the entire police department. The act committed by this senior officer, in uniform and within his own office, has made people view the police department itself with suspicion and doubt," Kumar said in a statement.
Suresh attacked the government, saying earlier when large-scale gold smuggling had taken place by misusing the official's name and position, the government had washed its hands of the matter by sending him on compulsory leave.
(With PTI inputs)