The Karnataka government on Tuesday placed senior police officer Ramachandra Rao under suspension after a video circulated widely on social media allegedly showing him in intimate moments inside his official chamber. Rao, a DGP-rank IPS officer, came under intense scrutiny after the footage triggered widespread controversy and public outrage.
The decision to suspend the senior officer followed the matter reaching Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office. On Monday, the Chief Minister sought a detailed briefing from the concerned department regarding the allegations and the circumstances under which such an incident could have occurred within the police establishment. A day later, the state government moved swiftly to suspend Rao, citing the seriousness of the controversy and the damage it could cause to public trust in the institution.
According to sources, the Chief Minister was visibly angered after viewing the video and demanded an explanation as to how such conduct, if true, was possible within an official police office. The incident also intensified political pressure on the ruling Congress government, with opposition parties closely watching whether the state would order a formal inquiry and initiate strict disciplinary proceedings against the officer.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing Ramachandra Rao—who is also the father of Ranya Rao, an accused in a gold smuggling case—allegedly engaging in intimate behaviour with multiple women inside his official chamber. The footage, which quickly went viral, purportedly shows Rao hugging and kissing different women while dressed in uniform during office hours.
Sources familiar with the matter claim that the video appears to have been secretly recorded inside the DGP’s office and shows women visiting on different occasions, each time wearing different outfits. The visuals allegedly depict Rao interacting closely with them while official work was ongoing, raising serious questions about conduct, propriety, and misuse of official space.
Rao, however, has strongly denied all allegations. He has described the video as “fabricated” and “false,” claiming that it has been morphed to malign his image. “This is a morphed video. People are targeting me,” he said, rejecting the accusations outright.
Speaking further to India Today, Rao stated that he was posted in Belagavi eight years ago and suggested that the timing and nature of the video raised serious doubts about its authenticity. He said he had consulted his advocate and would be taking legal action. Calling the situation shocking, Rao insisted that the video was completely false and emphasised that the truth could only emerge through a proper investigation. He demanded that an official inquiry be conducted, alleging that false information was being deliberately circulated to damage his reputation.
Amid the growing controversy, Rao also met the state Home Minister to discuss the issue. However, despite this meeting and his denials, the government proceeded with his suspension, signalling that it viewed the allegations as grave enough to warrant immediate administrative action pending further inquiry.
