The decision to revoke the suspension of senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao was taken by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday, a day after the state government reinstated the officer weeks before his retirement.
Speaking in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has withdrawn the suspension decision with the approval of the Chief Minister as Rao is scheduled to retire at the end of May.
“I am not here to say whether the suspension has been withdrawn or not. It is up to the House and the Prime Minister. They have taken the decision,” Parameshwara said.
The Home Minister said that Rao had given an explanation to the Prime Minister and requested a review of the suspension in light of his impending retirement. According to Parameshwara, Rao also requested that the investigation against him be continued.
“I am informed that Ramachandra Rao has given an explanation to the Prime Minister. He requested that the suspension decision be reconsidered in view of my retirement. In the application, he asked for further investigation. The investigation will continue till the case is concluded. A decision will be taken based on the report received in the investigation,” he said.
Parameshwara added that retirement would not necessarily protect an officer from disciplinary consequences and said retirement benefits had been withheld in several cases even after retirement.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday revoked Rao’s suspension. The director-general of police, with the rank of officer, was suspended from duty in January after a video surfaced on social media, allegedly showing him in a compromising position with women inside his office.
In an order issued on Wednesday evening, the government said that Rao has been reinstated with immediate effect and has been appointed as Director General of Police (Police Manual) until further orders.
“The Government of Karnataka, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 3(7)(c) of the AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969, hereby revokes the suspension order and reinstates Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao. IPS (KN: 1993) to service with immediate effect and the officer is appointed with immediate effect and until further orders as Director General of Police (Police Manual). Now, the Government has decided to revoke the suspension and restore the officer to service,” the order said.
Rao is scheduled to retire on May 30. Disciplinary proceedings against him were initiated on March 18 under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
Earlier in 2025, Rao was also embroiled in controversy after his stepdaughter, Kannada actress Rania Rao, was arrested in a gold smuggling case. Allegations later emerged that he had allowed her to bypass security screening at the airport, after which he was sent on forced leave. He was later recalled and appointed as DGP in August.
