Video manipulated, says Karnataka DGP Rao; CM seeks Home Dept report

January 19, 2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) K. Ramachandra Rao on Monday dismissed as “manipulated” the purported videos circulating on social media that allegedly show him engaging in objectionable behaviour with a woman inside his office while in uniform. Speaking to reporters, Rao said no such incident had taken place and added that he would consult his advocate before deciding on further action.

Rao also visited the office of Home Minister G. Parameshwara to offer clarification. However, sources said the Home Minister conveyed through staff that he was unavailable, following which the DGP left the premises.

CM seeks report amid political and administrative unease
Sources confirmed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the Home Department to submit a detailed report on the matter. The development has reportedly upset the Chief Minister, especially as the state government had earlier faced embarrassment over allegations involving Rao in a gold smuggling case.

The purported videos, which went viral on Monday, allegedly show Rao in uniform inside his official chamber engaging in intimate behaviour with a woman. In another clip, he is seen in a suit in the same office, with the Indian flag and the police emblem visible. The faces of the woman have been blurred, background music added, and captions inserted before circulation.

Opposition reacts, links raised to earlier gold smuggling case
Sources said the videos were recorded over a year ago, before the arrest of actress Ranya Rao in a gold smuggling case, and were allegedly captured on CCTV cameras installed in the office. It remains unclear why the clips surfaced now. Rao currently serves as DGP in the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE).

Former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra strongly criticised the incident, saying it had insulted the entire police department and demanding strict action if the allegations were proven. Rao had earlier been placed on compulsory leave in March 2025 in connection with the gold smuggling case and was later reinstated. Ranya Rao was arrested for allegedly smuggling gold and misusing her stepfather’s name to bypass security checks.

More details are awaited, and both the Police Department and Ramachandra Rao are yet to issue further statements on the latest controversy.