Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao was suspended on Monday night after videos of the top cop in a compromising position with women went viral. The state government has also launched an investigation — with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah vowing disciplinary action after a detailed inquiry. The IPS officer has continued to maintain his innocence and insisted repeatedly that the clips were “fake” and that he had no idea about their contents.
“I am also thinking how and when it happened and who has done it. In this era anything can happen. I have no idea about it…I am shocked. It is all fabricated, lie. The video is all false. I have no idea about it,” he insisted in conversation with reporters on Monday.
The top police officer is also the stepfather of Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao who was arrested in a sensational gold smuggling case last year. She currently remains lodged in the Bengaluru Central Jail.
Disciplinary action, probe against top cop
The suspension came hours after the unverified clips went viral on social media — sparking widespread outrage and complaints to both state and central authorities. The state government is working to determine the source and authenticity of the videos as part of its investigation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has warned of action if the official was found guilty.
“We will get it investigated. We will initiate disciplinary action against him. No one is above law, notwithstanding how senior the police officer is,” the CM said.
“Being the Woman and Child Development Minister I can tell you that we will take action mercilessly, irrespective of the seniority he holds,” added Karnataka minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.
Denied meeting with Karnataka Home Minister
Rao had rushed to meet with Home Minister G Parameshwara after the clip went viral and Kannada TV news channels aired the blurred images of the women in the video. But his efforts to clarify did not come to fruition as the meeting failed to materialise on Monday. Rao has insisted he would explain to the Home Minister that false information is being spread.
“I will know only if it had happened. I don’t know about it…Old means, eight years ago when I was in Belagavi,” he added while speaking to reporters outside the minister’s house.
Asked about his next course of action, he told reporters that he would discuss the matter with his advocate.
Video goes viral
The widely circulating clip includes an edited montage of the top official interacting inappropriately with women in various rooms/occasions. The faces of the women were blurred out and it remains somewhat unclear exactly when or how the videos were filmed.