Banna Ganapa' painting exhibition inaugurated

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)

September 1, 2011

Mangalore, September 1: Banna Ganapa, a unique exhibition of paintings on Ganesha by 12 artists was inaugurated Thursday morning Ganesh S. Rao, Founder Chairman of Karavali Group of Colleges.

Rohan R. Monteiro, Managing Director, Property Infratech India Pvt. Ltd., Mangalore was the chief guest on the occasion.

The exhibition is hosted by Art Insight at its art gallery situated at Kadri Service Station, Shivabagh, Mangalore to commemorate its successful two years. IndianOil Corporation Mangalore Divisional Office is the sponsor and co-organizer of the event.

The exhibition, which coincides with Ganesh Chathurthi and IndianOil Day, will be open for public viewing for seven days (till 7th Sept.) at the gallery from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

It features about 30 paintings by 12 professional artists of the coastal region. The participating artists are: Anil Devadiga, Dinesh Holla, Harish Kodialbail, Harish Marne, Jayavanth, Jeevan A.S., Kandan G., Mohan Kumar B.P., Rajendra Kedige, Reshma Shetty, Syed Asif Ali and Vishwas M.

Addressing the assembled gathering, Ganesh Rao observed that every artist's talent is unique and it is futile to compare one artist with another. “Ganesha being a universal god has innumerable forms and each of participating artists has depicted his own personal vision of Lord Ganesh,” he said, adding, “While creative license gives the artist the freedom to depict this god in any form (aakara), one should also take care to see that there is no distortion (vikaara) which may hurt people's sentiments.”

He appreciated the initiative taken by Art Insight to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi festival in this innovative way. “Even organizing this kind of exhibition dedicated to Lord Ganesh is a way of offering pooja to him,” he said, “This exhibition is an example of what can be achieved if we all work together.”

He particularly lauded the efforts of IndianOil Corporation in promoting art and said more such events are needed to motivate talented youngsters to take to art. He offered his institution's campus and resources to the artist community for the purpose of promoting art in the future.

In his address the chief guest Rohan Monteiro said he was very happy to be a part of the event and he wished that this exhibition which is being organized in the name of Lord Ganesha will bring peace and property to the land and its people.

The inauguration ceremony commenced with a statement of condolence and silent tribute to veteran artist Panambur Purushotham Karanth who passed away last evening.

The dignitaries individually felicitated each of the participating artists by presenting a rose. Karunakar MH and Rajendra Kedige of Art Insight and the premises owner Gurupreeth Alva of Kadri Service Station were present on the occasion.

Art Insight – A Unique Gallery

Art Insight is India's first art gallery to be situated in an IndianOil fuel outlet. The innovative idea of having a permanent art gallery in a filling station was conceived by Indian Oil Corporation as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility for promoting art awareness in society. The gallery is run by S. S. Creations with the full support and encouragement of IndianOil and the help of the artist community of the region.

The gallery is associated with more than 25 artists of Kasargod, Mangalore and Udupi districts and has been actively promoting art with the patronage of the public including banks, corporates and organizations.

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Who is Ramachandra Rao? Karnataka DGP, actress Ranya’s stepfather suspended over viral ‘obscene’ video

News Network

January 20,2026

Karnataka DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao was suspended with immediate effect, as per a state government order issued on Monday, 19 January. The order cited conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration.

The Karnataka government suspended Rao after a purported video showed him in a compromising position with a woman inside his official chamber. The video went viral on social media. Rao rejected the videos outright, terming them "fabricated and false".

Who is K Ramachandra Rao?

Rao is a DGP-rank officer who was heading the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement until his suspension. He was promoted to DGP in September 2023 and assumed office in October 2023, the Sunday Guardian reported.

He also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

His stint as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Southern Range was also marred by controversy. In 2014, during a cash seizure near Mysuru’s Yelwal, officials claimed the seized amount was ₹20 lakh, while the accused (Kerala-based merchants) claimed it was around ₹2.27 crore.

Rao, who was present during the seizure, denied all allegations. However, he was transferred soon after.

Allegations of collusion with a businessman surfaced, and a senior police officer was quoted by The Sunday Guardian as saying, “In Rao’s case, the CID has clearly mentioned that there was a great degree of lapse on the part of Rao and a deputy superintendent of police after it was brought to their notice that a few policemen, including a gunman attached to the IGP, were involved in the robbery.”

Rao had denied all wrongdoing in that incident. Despite past controversies, he rose to the state’s top police position, the Sunday Guardian reported.

Ranya Rao’s stepfather

Rao is the stepfather of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, accused of orchestrating the illegal import of gold worth over ₹12.56 crore from Dubai to India along with two others — businessman Tarun Raju, and jewellery dealer Sahil Jain.

‘Obscene video’ controversy

A viral video showed Rao behaving inappropriately with a woman inside his office while in uniform.

The Karnataka government said in its Monday order that “vide videos and news reports widely broadcast on public news channels and media platforms, it is observed that Dr K Ramachandra Rao has acted in an obscene manner which is unbecoming of a Government Servant and also causing embarrassment to the Government.”

The order said the matter was examined by the state government, which found that the officer's conduct amounted to a violation of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

The government said it is prima facie satisfied that "it is necessary to place Rao under suspension with immediate effect, pending inquiry".

During the suspension period, Rao will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per Rule 4 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.

The order also places restrictions on his movement, stating that during the period of suspension, the officer must not leave headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the state government.

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