K. Ramachandra Rao is a high-ranking IPS (Indian Police Service) officer serving as the stepfather of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, gaining widespread media attention following his stepdaughter’s arrest in a sensational gold smuggling case in March 2025. As Director General of Police (DGP) of Karnataka since October 2023, he held one of India’s most prestigious law enforcement positions before becoming entangled in the controversy surrounding his stepdaughter’s criminal charges.
Who is K. Ramachandra Rao?
K. Ramachandra Rao ranks among Karnataka’s highest-ranking police officials, having served in increasingly senior positions throughout his 30+ year career in the IPS. His professional trajectory demonstrates consistent advancement through law enforcement ranks, though his career has been punctuated by controversies.
His prominence in Karnataka police made the gold smuggling case involving his stepdaughter particularly sensational, attracting intense media scrutiny and public debate about nepotism and abuse of power. Though initially sent on compulsory leave following the March 2025 arrest, he was reinstated in August 2025 to the position of DGP for the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.
K. Ramachandra Rao Age
K. Ramachandra Rao’s exact date of birth has not been publicly disclosed in mainstream media sources, though his career trajectory suggests he is in his late 50s to early 60s as of January 2026. His professional tenure spanning over three decades indicates he entered police service around 1990s, calculating backward from his current DGP position.
K. Ramachandra Rao Biography / Wiki
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | K. Ramachandra Rao |
| Age (2026) | Estimated late 50s to early 60s (exact DOB not public) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Service | Indian Police Service (IPS) |
| Current Position | DGP, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (as of August 2025) |
| Previous Position | Director General of Police (DGP) Karnataka (October 2023–March 2025) |
| Years in Service | 30+ years |
| State Police Force | Karnataka Police |
| Stepdaughter | Ranya Rao (Kannada actress, gold smuggling case 2025) |
| Current Marital Status | Married (mother of Ranya Rao not publicly named) |
| Notable Controversies | 2014 cash seizure scandal, 2025 stepdaughter smuggling case allegations, January 2026 viral video controversy |
Early Life and Background
Limited public information exists regarding K. Ramachandra Rao’s early life and family background. His career documentation focuses on his professional achievements rather than personal history. Unlike many public figures, he has maintained privacy about his childhood, education, and family origins.
His family connections became public primarily through his stepdaughter Ranya Rao’s arrest in March 2025, which thrust his personal and professional life into intense media scrutiny.
K. Ramachandra Rao Education
Specific details about Ramachandra Rao’s formal education remain undisclosed in public records. To serve as an IPS officer, he would have completed at least a bachelor’s degree and passed rigorous national civil service examinations, though official sources do not specify his educational institutions.
His professional training through the IPS academy equipped him with law enforcement knowledge, investigative techniques, and administrative skills required for senior police leadership.
K. Ramachandra Rao Profession
K. Ramachandra Rao works exclusively as a law enforcement officer within the Indian Police Service, one of India’s three premier civil services. His responsibilities encompassed:
- Police Administration: Managing large police forces across multiple districts and regions
- Criminal Investigation Oversight: Supervising major investigation units and crime prevention strategies
- Law Enforcement Policy: Implementing state and national policing directives
- Corruption Prevention: Leading anti-corruption initiatives, though his own career faced scrutiny
- His positions required navigating complex political relationships while maintaining law enforcement integrity.
K. Ramachandra Rao Career Journey
Early IPS Career (1990s–2010s)
Ramachandra Rao entered the Indian Police Service during the 1990s, joining as a commissioned officer. He progressed through standard IPS ranks—Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent—gaining experience across multiple police jurisdictions.
His early postings likely included routine law enforcement duties in various Karnataka districts, though detailed records of this period remain unpublished.
Southern Range IGP & 2014 Controversy (2012–2015)
By 2014, Ramachandra Rao had risen to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Southern Range, a senior rank overseeing police operations across Karnataka’s southern districts. During this period, a significant controversy emerged that would affect his career trajectory.
In early 2014, while serving as IGP Southern Range, a bus traveling toward Calicut was stopped near Mysuru’s Yelwal by police officers under his command. The police claimed to have seized ₹20 lakh from Kerala merchants allegedly transporting undeclared cash.
However, the merchants alleged the total seized amount was ₹2.27 crore (approximately $272,000 USD), accusing police of colluding with a businessman to misappropriate the difference. One officer involved was Rao’s personal gunman, Prakash, raising questions about potential involvement by Rao himself.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation concluded there was “a great degree of lapse” on Rao’s part and a deputy superintendent’s part after becoming aware of the alleged misconduct. Though Rao denied allegations, he was transferred soon after the scandal.
Bengaluru Task Force & Promotion (2015–2023)
Following the Mysuru controversy, Ramachandra Rao was posted as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force, a prestigious urban policing position. This posting kept him in the state capital where high-visibility policing demanded professional excellence.
His performance in this role apparently rehabilitated his image sufficiently. In September 2023, he was promoted to Director General of Police (DGP), the highest law enforcement position in Karnataka, leading the entire state police apparatus.
DGP Tenure & Stepdaughter Scandal (October 2023–March 2025)
Ramachandra Rao assumed office as DGP in October 2023 with significant responsibility for law and order across Karnataka. His tenure began positively, with no major controversies during initial months.
On March 3, 2025, the scandal erupted when his stepdaughter, Kannada actress Ranya Rao, was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru Airport with 14.2 kilograms of gold worth ₹12.56 crore (approximately $1.5 million USD) in her possession.
When questioned about the arrest, Ramachandra Rao publicly distanced himself, telling reporters: “She got married four months ago and hasn’t visited us since. We are unaware of her or her husband’s business dealings. This has come as a huge shock and disappointment. The law will take its course”.
However, investigations revealed that Ranya had told airport police she was an IPS officer’s daughter to gain preferential treatment. A State Police Protocol Officer allegedly acted on Ramachandra Rao’s direct orders to facilitate her smooth airport transit, according to investigator statements.
Compulsory Leave & Reinstatement (March–August 2025)
On March 15, 2025, following allegations that he misused his position to facilitate smuggling, Ramachandra Rao was placed on compulsory leave. A government-directed inquiry led by IAS officer Gaurav Gupta questioned him regarding allegations of abusing his authority.
Despite initial suspension, the inquiry’s findings apparently cleared him of direct criminal involvement. On August 12, 2025, the Karnataka government revoked his compulsory leave order and reinstated him as DGP of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.
Viral Video Controversy & Suspension (January 2026)
On January 18–19, 2026, a controversial video surfaced showing Ramachandra Rao in alleged intimate moments with different women inside his official office chamber. The video depicted him hugging, fondling, and kissing women while in police uniform during office hours.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded explanation and ordered an inquiry. Ramachandra Rao denied authenticity, claiming the videos were fabricated using artificial intelligence and that they predated his current posting by approximately eight years (recorded during his Belagavi posting).
On January 19, 2026, he was suspended from service pending investigation into the allegations.
K. Ramachandra Rao Achievements
Throughout his police career, Ramachandra Rao achieved several professional milestones:
- Promotion to DGP: Reached Karnataka’s highest law enforcement position
- Urban Policing Leadership: Managed Bengaluru’s complex metropolitan policing as ADGP
- Career Longevity: Maintained senior positions across 30+ year career despite controversies
- State Police Management: Oversaw entire state police apparatus during DGP tenure
However, his career achievements were significantly overshadowed by recurring controversies questioning his integrity and judgment.
K. Ramachandra Rao Family
| Relationship | Details |
| Stepdaughter | Ranya Rao (Kannada actress; arrested March 3, 2025 for gold smuggling) |
| EX Stepson-in-law | Jatin Hukkeri |
| Spouse | HP Rohini |
| Biological Children | Number and names not publicly disclosed |
| Relationship with Ranya | Publicly distanced after arrest; stated she hadn’t visited since marriage |
Family Dynamics & Estrangement
Following Ranya’s arrest, Ramachandra Rao made an emotional public statement positioning himself as a “heartbroken parent” unaware of his stepdaughter’s activities. He claimed Ranya married approximately four months before her March 2025 arrest and had not visited family since the wedding.
During investigations, inconsistencies emerged between his public denials and investigator allegations that a police protocol officer acted on his orders to facilitate Ranya’s airport access. These contradictions fueled speculation about his potential involvement, though final inquiry findings apparently cleared him.
The viral video controversy of January 2026 further strained his family situation, creating additional scrutiny on his personal conduct and professional judgment.
