Ranya Rao Case: Her Stepfather and IPS Officer K Ramachandra Rao Gets Posting After 5 Months

The Karnataka government has reinstated K Ramachandra Rao as DGP after he was placed on leave due to his stepdaughter's gold smuggling case. The Enforcement Directorate continues its investigation into the matter.

The Karnataka government has reinstated senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, who was previously placed on compulsory leave due to a gold smuggling case involving his stepdaughter, actress Ranya Rao. He now serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) for the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement. This decision follows an official notification regarding his new appointment.

In March 2025, DGP Ramachandra Rao was placed on compulsory leave after his stepdaughter was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport. She allegedly smuggled gold worth Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai, exploiting privileges available to family members of senior IPS officers. Rao is expected to retire in May 2026.

Gold Smuggling Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken action by attaching immovable properties valued at Rs 34.12 crore in connection with a transnational gold smuggling and money laundering case linked to actress Harshavardini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, and her associates. The properties are located in Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka.

The ED's investigation revealed that Ranya Rao collaborated with Tarun Konduru Raju and others in a well-organised operation to smuggle gold into India. During a search of her residence, authorities recovered Rs 2.67 crore in unaccounted Indian currency and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore.

Legal Framework and Actions

The properties were attached under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as equivalent value assets corresponding to untraced proceeds of crime discovered during the investigation. This action was executed by the ED's Headquarters Investigative Unit-II based in New Delhi.

An official notification from the Government of Karnataka stated: "The order of compulsory leave with respect to Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS is hereby withdrawn and the officer is posted with immediate effect and until further orders as Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in the upgraded vacant post."

Position Equivalence

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms' undersecretary declared that the post held by Dr K Ramachandra Rao is equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Units & Economic Offences, Bengaluru under Rule 12 of IPS (Pay) Rules 2016 as included in Schedule II.

This reinstatement marks a significant development following months of scrutiny over the gold smuggling allegations involving his stepdaughter. The case continues to unfold as authorities pursue further investigations into the matter.