‘No one is above the law’: Karnataka suspends DGP Ramachandra Rao over viral office videos

Bengaluru: In a dramatic late-night development, the Karnataka government on Monday suspended K Ramachandra Rao, Director General of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement), hours after unverified videos allegedly showing the senior IPS officer in intimate acts with women inside his office went viral on social media.

The suspension followed the state government’s decision to order a formal probe into the matter amid mounting political outrage and multiple complaints to authorities.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said disciplinary action would be based on the findings of a detailed inquiry and made it clear that seniority would not offer protection.

Speaking to the media, the CM said he became aware of the controversy earlier in the day and immediately directed officials to initiate a probe. “We will take action. No one is above the law, however senior the officer may be,” Siddaramaiah asserted.

The suspension came just hours after purported videos began circulating widely online, triggering sharp reactions from opposition leaders, activists, and within government circles.

The clips allegedly show Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer, hugging and kissing women inside his office while in uniform during office hours.

The women are purportedly seen visiting the office on different occasions, wearing different outfits, suggesting multiple meetings. The authenticity and source of the videos, however, remain unverified.

Officials said the state government has asked the home department to submit a detailed report and examine the videos as part of the inquiry. Cyber and technical experts are also expected to analyse the footage to determine when and where it was recorded.

Rao denies charges, calls videos ‘fabricated’

Rao rejected the allegations outright, calling the videos “fabricated, false, and aimed at maligning me and scuttling my career.”

Speaking to reporters, he said he was shocked by the circulation of the clips and claimed he did not know how or when they were recorded. He suggested the footage could relate to his posting in Belagavi nearly eight years ago.

“I will consult my advocate and take appropriate legal action,” Rao said, adding that his attempts to meet Home Minister G Parameshwara did not fructify. “In this era, anything can be created. I have no idea about it,” he maintained.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he was unaware of the details of the case and referred all queries to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister.

Complaints to PMO, DoPT; audio clips add twist

As the controversy escalated, Ballari-based social activist and Anna Foundation chief Rajshekar Mulali wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), seeking legal action against Rao.

The complaint alleged misuse of power, public office, and police uniform, and accused the officer of showing “disrespect to national and state symbols.”

Another activist, Dinesh Kallahalli, filed a complaint with the chief secretary and additional chief secretary, demanding Rao’s suspension and disciplinary action under the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969.

Late Monday evening, two audio clips also surfaced on social media, purportedly featuring a conversation between a police officer and a woman.

Their authenticity could not be independently verified. The circulation of the audio clips, alongside the videos, further fuelled public anger and political pressure on the government.

Opposition ups pressure

Senior BJP MLA and former law minister S Suresh Kumar termed the alleged acts “an unforgivable crime” that cast a shadow over the credibility of the police force.

He pointed to the tricolour visible in the background of the video, calling it a sign of disrespect to the national flag. Opposition leaders accused the government of initially shielding the officer and demanded an independent probe.

Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said the government would act “mercilessly, irrespective of seniority,” if wrongdoing was established.

Past controversies resurface

Rao, who is also the stepfather of Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, has faced scrutiny earlier in his career. Opposition leaders cited past controversies to argue for swift and strict action.

The state government has reiterated that the authenticity of both the videos and the audio clips will be verified and that further action will depend solely on the outcome of the inquiry.