Karnataka Police Complaints Authority recommends ban on ‘Khaki Swag’ reels, uniformed social media posts

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Updated - July 21, 2026 01:35 pm IST - Bengaluru

The authority observed that while the police uniform symbolises discipline, integrity, duty, and public service, some personnel have increasingly been using it for personal publicity by creating reels, dance videos, pre-wedding shoots, motivational content, blogs, and videos featuring official vehicles, firearms, and other police equipment. | Photo Credit: Image for representational purposes

The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA) has recommended a State-wide ban on police personnel posting reels, photographs, pre-wedding shoots, and other social media content in uniform, saying the growing “Khaki Swag” trend is undermining the dignity, discipline, and public trust associated with the police force.

In a letter dated July 14, 2026, addressed to the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (DG&IGP), KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa urged the Police Department to issue strict directions prohibiting officers and personnel of all ranks from uploading photographs, videos, blogs or reels in police uniform on personal social media accounts.

The authority observed that while the police uniform symbolises discipline, integrity, duty, and public service, some personnel have increasingly been using it for personal publicity by creating reels, dance videos, pre-wedding shoots, motivational content, blogs, and videos featuring official vehicles, firearms, and other police equipment. It also expressed concern over senior officers allegedly using official duties, inspections, law and order bandobast, and crime scene visits to create promotional videos for social media.

According to the letter, such content not only affects the image of the Police Department but also exposes official premises, vehicles, weapons, and operational details, raising security concerns and potentially violating the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The authority further alleged that fraudsters have misused photographs of police officers in uniform to create fake social media accounts and cheat members of the public.

The KSPCA pointed out that several States, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar, have already imposed restrictions on police personnel posting social media content in uniform. It also referred to a Standing Order issued by the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner on July 22, 2024, against such practices, stating that compliance has remained poor.

Among its recommendations, the authority has sought a complete ban on posting photographs, reels or videos in police uniform on personal social media accounts and using uniformed photographs as display pictures, removal of all existing photographs, videos and pre-wedding shoots in uniform from personal accounts and fan pages, continuous monitoring of police personnel’s social media accounts by the department’s social media cell and disciplinary action against violators, and strict instructions to all police academies and training centres to prohibit trainees from creating or sharing reels or photographs in uniform or displaying firearms on social media.

Published - July 20, 2026 08:48 pm IST

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