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Karnataka women’s panel seeks probe against IPS officer Ramachandra Rao under workplace harassment law

Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary says Ramachandra Rao’s conduct creates a sense of insecurity among women and sends a wrong message to civil society.

2 min readBengaluruJan 21, 2026 10:35 PM IST

Ramachandra Rao has denied the allegations, claiming the videos are “fabricated and false”. (Express photo by special arrangement)

Taking serious note of audio and video clips allegedly showing senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao engaging in obscene acts inside a government office, the Karnataka State Commission for Women has sought a transparent inquiry and strict action under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, or the POSH Act.

In separate letters addressed to the chief secretary and the director-general of police, the commission’s chairperson, Nagalakshmi Choudhary, said that visuals aired by television channels purportedly showed Rao, who is the director-general of police (civil rights enforcement), misbehaving with women in his official chamber.

“The conduct of the senior police officer who is entrusted with the responsibility of protecting women creates a sense of insecurity among women and sends a wrong message to civil society,” the commission said, adding that the matter squarely attracts provisions of the POSH Act.

The commission has called for the officer’s immediate suspension, a transparent and impartial inquiry, and strict action under a zero-tolerance policy, and has sought a report within seven days on the action taken.

The Government, meanwhile, has already suspended Rao with immediate effect, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and embarrassment caused to the administration. The suspension order, issued following directions from the chief minister’s office, bars him from leaving the police headquarters in Bengaluru without prior government permission, pending the inquiry.

Rao has denied the allegations, claiming the videos are “fabricated and false”, and has said he will initiate legal action against those circulating unverified content.

The episode has triggered widespread debate in political and public circles, with officials reiterating that no one is above the law and that due process will be followed as the inquiry proceeds.

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