Protests and public anger over exam irregularities and question paper leaks have been escalating across the country over the past few months. Following demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, students raised their voices against the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, while similar protests erupted in Chhattisgarh following a paper leak at the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya. Now, a massive corruption scandal has emerged from Karnataka, involving serious allegations of rigging in recruitment examinations conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission. The high-profile case has drawn the attention of central investigative agencies, leading to extensive raids by the Enforcement Directorate.
How the KPSC Scam Came to Light
The KPSC is responsible for conducting competitive examinations for government jobs across Karnataka. On January 8 of this year, an examination was held for 400 posts of Veterinary Officers in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. The final results were subsequently released on July 17. Disturbed by the outcome, a candidate named Dr. Manjunath lodged a formal complaint at the Karnataka Vidhana Soudha police station on July 25 regarding irregularities in the examination process. According to reports, it was alleged that at least 29 candidates had illegally obtained question papers prior to the exam. Furthermore, close relatives of the KPSC chairman, members, and several staff members secured top positions in the final merit list, sparking widespread accusations of nepotism.
Allegations of Nepotism Against the KPSC Chairman
Calls for the suspension of KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar have been growing louder amid mounting allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Sahukar faced severe scrutiny after it was revealed that his daughter secured a government job on the basis of an alleged fake income certificate. Addressing this administrative turmoil, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the Governor had initially suspended Sahukar, who then approached the High Court. The court directed the Governor to make a decision based on the aid and advice of the state government, and the state cabinet subsequently discussed the matter.
Bribes Ranging Up to One Crore and Nationwide ED Raids
Investigators uncovered that several middlemen contacted candidates and demanded massive bribes ranging from 80 lakh rupees to 1 crore rupees per candidate to secure their selection. Continuing its money-laundering probe into various recruitment scams linked to the KPSC, the Enforcement Directorate launched a sweeping search operation on August 18. Conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, these searches spanned 21 locations across Karnataka including Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi, and Belagavi, alongside Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The targeted locations included the KPSC office, the residences of Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar and member Shanthas Hosamani, premises of alleged middlemen, and the office of Edutest Solutions Private Limited, the firm responsible for the digital evaluation of exam papers.
The Role and Mysterious Disappearance of IAS Officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar
The official drawing the maximum scrutiny in this sprawling scandal is Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a 2016-batch Karnataka-cadre officer who currently serves as the Director of MSME in the Department of Industries and Commerce. He had served as the Controller of Examinations at the KPSC until March of this year, though he had also held the position earlier in June. According to reports citing sources, Gangwar has been unreachable since August 20 and had booked a flight ticket to Delhi. The ED has not yet released any official information regarding seizures or the arrest of any key suspects. Gangwar reportedly went untraceable after boarding a flight from Bengaluru to Delhi on August 20, having booked a last-minute Indigo flight costing 30,200 rupees, and could not be contacted upon reaching the national capital.
Dramatic Scenes During the ED Raid at Gangwar's Residence
On Sunday afternoon, ED officials accompanied by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force arrived in three vehicles at Gangwar's residence located on Jayamahal Road in Bengaluru. Initially, security guards barred the officials from entering the premises, claiming they required direct instructions from Gangwar himself. According to sources, the officials waited for roughly two hours and were allowed inside only after the security personnel received instructions over Gangwar's phone. The ED officials encountered further hurdles as the main door of the house was locked, forcing them to summon a local locksmith to gain entry. Neighbors were reportedly brought in as witnesses during the procedure. A parallel search was conducted at Gangwar's residence in Bareilly, though it remains unclear whether he was present there at the time. While investigators are probing Gangwar's alleged involvement in the KPSC affair, the ED has not disclosed whether it possessed preliminary evidence prior to conducting the searches at his properties.
