The Karnataka government on Wednesday revoked the suspension of senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, who is scheduled to retire on May 30. Rao was suspended in January after a video allegedly filmed inside the office of the inspector general of police (IGP) in Belagavi went viral on social media.
Video Controversy and Suspension
The clip, which showed Rao in police uniform, triggered widespread controversy. A special committee later confirmed to the government that the video was authentic. According to sources, the video was allegedly shot in 2017 when Rao was serving as the IGP of the northern range. It depicted the officer in uniform engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a woman during work hours.
Link to Stepdaughter's Gold Smuggling Case
Rao's stepdaughter, actress Ranya Rao, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in March 2025 after 14.2 kg of gold bars, allegedly smuggled from Dubai, were seized from her. After spending more than one year in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison, Ranya Rao was released last month. Shortly after her arrest, the IPS officer was placed on compulsory leave over allegations that he allowed Ranya to bypass security checks at the airport. In August, he was recalled and posted as Director General of Police (DGP).
The revocation of his suspension comes as he nears retirement, bringing an end to a period of uncertainty surrounding his career.
