Who is Ramachandra Rao? Karnataka DGP Faces Suspension after Viral Video Row

On Tuesday, the government suspended K. Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement) in Karnataka.

The reason for his suspension is an inappropriate video of him that went viral on social media.

It showed Rao in a compromising situation with a woman, after which he was suspended.

However, it’s not clear whether his unseemly act was carried out with one woman or multiple.

State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who ordered the probe, spoke to reporters that he came to know about the video through three clips joined together on Monday.

He also added that any officer, regardless of rank, will face disciplinary action if found guilty of misconduct.

Rao, also the father of actor Ranya Rao, denied the allegations and called it a fake. According to him, he has no idea about the origin of the video.

Ramachandra Rao: All You Need To Know About Him

Ramachandra Rao first came into the news when his stepdaughter Ranya Rao got involved in a gold smuggling case.

In September 2023, he was promoted to the post of DGP (Director General of Police) and assumed office in October.

Earlier, Rao served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

He has also worked as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Southern Range.

Rao drew attention when he got involved in a controversial cash seizure in 2014.

During that year, police intercepted a private bus heading to Calicut near Yelwal in Mysuru and confiscated a huge amount of money carried by four merchants from Kerala.

According to the Mysore South police, they claimed to have seized Rs 20 lakh. But merchants alleged that the total amount captured was Rs 2.27 crore.

They even accused the police of conspiring with businessmen to rob them.

In the case of Rao, a senior police officer told the Bangalore Mirror that the CID clearly pointed out the negligence on the part of Rao and the deputy superintendent of police, even after being notified that some police officers, including the IGP's gunman, had a role in the robbery.

What Is In The Video?

According to sources, the video was recorded secretly inside Rao’s office chamber.

It allegedly showed him doing indecent acts like hugging and kissing multiple women during office hours in a police uniform.

Women in the clip is said to have visited his office on different days. They wore different clothes, indicating multiple occasions.

Even though there are no signs of force or coercion, the alleged behaviour inside a government office, during working hours, has drawn sharp criticism from the public and officials.

The government is keeping a close watch on the result of the inquiry, and if Rao is found guilty, he will face disciplinary action.

Video Is Morphed': DGP Rao Denies All Allegations, Meets Home Minister

The accused DGP Ramachandra Rao has spoken on his defence. While speaking to the media, he said the video is fabricated with the intention to malign his public image.

Amid this controversy, Rao had met with the Home Minister to clarify his side of the matter.