KPSC recruitment scam: IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar sent to judicial custody

Bengaluru, Aug 30 (IANS) IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, who served as Controller of Examinations of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), has been sent to judicial custody on Sunday in connection with the alleged recruitment scam involving the appointment of veterinary officers.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the case, arrested Kumar after questioning him for two days.

He was subsequently produced before the Bengaluru First Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court, at his residence, which remanded him to judicial custody.

The court has directed the authorities to produce him before an open court on August 31.

Kumar’s arrest has intensified the CID probe into the alleged irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process.

Investigators are reportedly examining evidence suggesting his alleged involvement in the manipulation of OMR sheets and are also probing his suspected role in arranging training for candidates at hotels and resorts.

The IAS officer was questioned extensively by the CID on August 28, with the questioning reportedly continuing until 11 p.m.

The questioning resumed on August 29 and continued until midnight.

Investigators are said to have found inconsistencies in his statements and evidence that allegedly points to his involvement in the manipulation of OMR answer sheets.

The CID is also examining whether candidates were provided training at select hotels and resorts as part of the alleged recruitment irregularities.

Following Kumar’s arrest, the investigation is likely to widen to former KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, officials and some members of the commission.

Investigators have reportedly collected details of four recruitment examinations conducted by the KPSC over the past three years.

These include recruitment examinations conducted for the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and the Industries and Commerce Department, besides the veterinary officer recruitment examination.

The CID is reportedly examining whether irregularities occurred in these examinations as well.

The alleged veterinary officer recruitment scam has also attracted the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has conducted searches at the residences of the former KPSC Chairman, members and officials in connection with the case.

The CID had earlier conducted searches at the KPSC office as part of its investigation.

The agency is probing allegations of question paper leaks, manipulation of marks and other irregularities in recruitment during Kumar’s tenure as Controller of Examinations.

The ED had also recently searched Kumar’s residence.

However, the IAS officer was not present at the house at the time, as he had travelled to his home state of Uttar Pradesh.

The ED officials subsequently opened the house using a duplicate key and conducted the search.

With Kumar now in judicial custody, the CID is expected to intensify its investigation and examine the possible involvement of other officials and individuals linked to the alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities.

–IANS

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