Karnataka suspends senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao after alleged office misconduct video surfaces

A senior Karnataka IPS officer, K Ramachandra Rao, was suspended late January 19 after a purported video allegedly showing him in a compromising situation with a woman inside his office went viral, triggering widespread outrage and swift administrative action.

In its suspension order, the state government said the conduct attributed to Rao was “obscene, unbecoming of a government servant, and causing embarrassment to the government.” The order, issued by Under Secretary K V Ashoka, stated that the government was prima facie satisfied that Rao’s actions violated Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, warranting immediate suspension pending a detailed inquiry.

Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer currently serving as Director General of Police (DGP), Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), will remain under suspension until further orders. During this period, he will receive a subsistence allowance as per Rule 4 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, and has been barred from leaving headquarters without prior written permission from the state government.

The video in question allegedly shows an officer in uniform engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a woman during working hours, reportedly inside his office. According to police sources, the footage dates back to 2017, when Rao was serving as Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Northern Range.

Rao, however, has strongly denied the allegations, claiming the video is fabricated. “I am shocked. False information is being circulated about me. The video is fake,” he said on January 19, adding that he would consult his advocate before initiating legal action and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

This is not the first time Rao has faced controversy. In 2025, he was sent on compulsory leave after his stepdaughter, Kannada actor Ranya Rao, was arrested in a gold smuggling case. Allegations at the time claimed he had facilitated her bypassing airport security checks. Rao was later recalled and posted as DGP in August.

The latest suspension adds to mounting scrutiny over the conduct of senior officers and underscores the state government’s stated zero-tolerance approach to actions deemed damaging to public trust and institutional integrity.