The scandal erupted on January 19 when a video clip began circulating across digital platforms, purportedly showing Rao in a series of inappropriate interactions while in full uniform. The gravity of the situation was compounded by the setting of the footage, which featured official government plaques and national flags, suggesting the acts took place within a high-security government office. The visual of a top-tier officer allegedly disregarding the sanctity of his position has drawn immediate condemnation, forcing the state leadership to address what is being described as a severe breach of professional ethics and decorum.
In his defense, Rao has vehemently denied the authenticity of the footage. Characterizing the clip as a sophisticated "morphed" fabrication, he has alleged that Artificial Intelligence may have been used to frame him in a targeted character assassination. The senior officer has expressed his intent to pursue rigorous legal remedies to clear his name, asserting that the digital evidence is a malicious tool designed to derail his career. Despite these claims of innocence and technological manipulation, the Karnataka government moved forward with his suspension on January 20, citing "conduct unbecoming of a government servant."
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly expressed profound displeasure over the incident, viewing the scandal as an avoidable embarrassment for the state administration. Under the terms of the suspension, Rao is strictly prohibited from leaving his headquarters without explicit permission as a formal inquiry gets underway. This probe is expected to involve forensic digital analysis to determine the veracity of the DGP’s deepfake claims while simultaneously examining the broader administrative lapses that allowed such a controversy to manifest.
The fallout of this incident extends beyond the career of a single officer; it highlights the growing challenges faced by public institutions in an era of digital volatility and the uncompromising standards expected of those in uniform. As the inquiry proceeds, the Karnataka police department finds itself under intense scrutiny, tasked with balancing the need for due process for a senior colleague with the urgent necessity of restoring public faith in the moral authority of the state’s highest law enforcement offices.
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