Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) K. Ramachandra Rao, stepfather of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, has been ordered to take compulsory leave by the state government, effective immediately, as of Saturday, March 15, 2025. The move comes in the wake of Ranya’s arrest on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, where she was caught allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai.

Rao, who serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, is now under scrutiny for possible misuse of protocol privileges linked to his stepdaughter’s case.

Ranya, arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), has been denied bail by a Special Court for Economic Offences, with the court citing her 27 trips to Dubai since January 2025 and the economic ramifications of the alleged smuggling. The DRI has also alleged that a state police protocol officer facilitated Ranya’s bypassing of security checks, raising questions about Rao’s involvement.

In response, the Karnataka government has appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to investigate Rao’s role, while the CID probes broader police lapses. Rao has publicly distanced himself, stating, “I don’t know anything about her activities.”

The case has stirred controversy, with Ranya alleging custodial torture—including being slapped 10-15 times and forced to sign blank documents—claims that have intensified public and media attention.