Suspended Karnataka IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, currently serving as Director General of Police (DGP) of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE), is once again at the centre of controversy following the circulation of viral videos allegedly showing him engaging in inappropriate behaviour at his office.
The videos, which surfaced on social media on Monday, purportedly show Rao in a compromising position with a woman. According to sources, the clips appear to be a compilation of multiple recordings from different occasions, all allegedly shot inside his office premises. Rao has denied the allegations, claiming the videos are fabricated.
Not New to Controversy
The latest episode adds to a series of controversies that have followed Rao in recent years.
In March last year, Rao came under scrutiny after his stepdaughter, actor Ranya Rao, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport in a high-profile gold smuggling case. Gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were seized from her possession, followed by additional recovery of gold jewellery and cash from her residence.
Ranya Rao was accused of misusing police escorts to bypass airport security checks. At the time, K Ramachandra Rao publicly distanced himself from her activities, stating that he had no involvement or knowledge of the alleged smuggling operation.
Following the incident, Rao was placed on compulsory leave on March 15, after a probe was ordered into allegations of misuse of official protocol. He was later reinstated and appointed to his current post at the DCRE.
The Bus Raid Case
Another major controversy dates back to 2014, during Rao’s tenure as Inspector General of Police (IGP), Southern Range. Police intercepted a private bus near Yelwal in Mysuru district, claiming to have seized ₹20 lakh. However, traders from Kerala alleged that the actual amount was ₹2.27 crore and accused police personnel of siphoning off a large portion of the cash.
A subsequent CID investigation reportedly found serious lapses in the handling of the case. Officers working under Rao’s supervision were allegedly involved in the misappropriation of funds. While Rao denied any personal wrongdoing, he was later reassigned.
Career Background
Before his promotion as DGP in September 2023, Rao served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. He assumed charge as DGP in October 2023.
The Karnataka government has since placed Rao under suspension pending inquiry into the latest allegations. Investigations into the viral video and past cases are ongoing.
