The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a major crackdown by conducting searches across 21 locations in Karnataka and Gujarat in connection with suspected irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Veterinary Officer recruitment exam. The ongoing investigation targets widespread allegations of exam paper leaks, score manipulation, and high-level corruption within the state recruitment board.
Key Locations and Officials Covered in the Raids
Investigating teams targeted multiple premises spread across Gujarat and Karnataka. In Karnataka, the raids spanned several key cities and administrative districts, including Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, and Belgaum. Searches were also conducted simultaneously in Ahmedabad.
The operation encompassed official state infrastructure as well as private residences of high-ranking individuals. Search teams entered the official KPSC office premises and searched the residences of suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar and Commission member Shanta Hosamani. Furthermore, investigators targeted premises associated with Edutest Solutions Pvt. Ltd., an entity involved in exam logistics, alongside several suspected middlemen believed to have facilitated the illegal scheme.
Allegations of Systemic Tampering and Heavy Bribes
The federal agency's enforcement actions stem from multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed over severe malpractices during the recruitment process. According to the investigative details, candidates were allegedly asked to pay astronomical bribes ranging from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh each in exchange for selection as Veterinary Officers.
The formal complaints detail systematic corruption involving the pre-exam leakage of question papers alongside the deliberate physical tampering of candidates' Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets. This action is part of a broader, intensified nationwide push against examination leaks and recruitment frauds in competitive public exams. Federal investigators are currently probing the precise flow of funds and attempting to uncover the full extent of involvement by commission officials and private intermediaries.
