Karnataka Exams Row: CID and SIT Probes Ordered After High Court Intervenes Over Recruitment Irregularities

Severe allegations of OMR sheet swapping and bribery have rocked Karnataka's Veterinary Officer and Civil Police Constable exams. Following strong remarks from the High Court, the state government halted recruitment and ordered CID and SIT probes.

The Karnataka government finds itself in the middle of a massive row following allegations of widespread malpractices in two separate recruitment drives. Candidates who appeared for the Veterinary Officer examination as well as the Civil Police Constable exam have raised serious concerns regarding fraudulent practices, prompting judicial intervention and police investigations across the state.

Allegations of OMR Sheet Manipulation in Veterinary Officer Exam
The Karnataka Public Service Commission published the final selection list for 400 Veterinary Officer posts on July 17. However, several test-takers immediately questioned the legitimacy of the results, presenting evidence of bribery and OMR sheet tampering. Candidates alleged that individual posts were auctioned for amounts ranging between 80 lakh and 1 crore rupees. To expose the racket, candidates conducted sting operations, releasing audio recordings, videos, and photos of negotiations with middlemen.

Following the revelations, Karnataka Police arrested two alleged brokers, identified as Sikandar Chaudhary and Arif Mohammad Mulla. When the matter reached the Karnataka High Court, the court observed the submitted proof and characterized the episode as daylight fraud. In response to the growing outrage, the state government halted the ongoing recruitment process and assigned the case to the CID. A Special Investigation Team was also set up, with the High Court ordering it to file its preliminary investigation report by August 6.

Protests and Boycotts During Civil Police Constable Exam
Amid the ongoing fallout from the veterinary exam controversy, chaos erupted during the Civil Police Constable recruitment test held on Sunday for 1453 vacant positions. Candidates at several centers complained that the identification numbers printed on the question papers did not match the serial numbers on their OMR sheets. Fearing systemic foul play, numerous aspirants boycotted the exam and staged demonstrations outside testing venues.

Addressing the uproar, the Karnataka Examination Authority denied any question paper leak, clarifying that identical serial numbers between question booklets and OMR sheets were not technically mandatory. The agency stated that candidate confusion was resolved at the centers. However, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje attacked the state leadership, accusing the administration of hushing up exam irregularities and demanding an independent probe by the CBI.

Political Showdown and Priyank Kharge's Sharp Response
The dual exam controversies have escalated into a fierce political confrontation in the state. The opposition BJP demanded the resignation of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge over the alleged failures. Responding to the demands, Priyank Kharge delivered a controversial retort, stating that candidates should first sit on a 25-day hunger strike and face lathicharge before his resignation comes into question. He cited the example of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, claiming resignation demands were addressed only after prolonged agitation in that instance.

Furthermore, Priyank Kharge highlighted previous paper leak incidents during the BJP's tenure in Karnataka, questioning why the opposition party had not sought resignations from its own ministers at the time. With the SIT probe currently underway, all eyes remain on the upcoming August 6 deadline for the investigative report.

What this means for you
• Across India: Candidates and job aspirants may experience heightened concerns over fairness and transparency in state-level competitive recruitment exams.
• In Karnataka: Thousands of exam candidates face uncertainty as recruitment processes remain stalled pending investigative outcomes.

Questions & Answers

1. Which recruitment exams in Karnataka are facing allegations of irregularities?
Allegations of irregularities have been raised in the recruitment exams for 400 Veterinary Officer posts and 1453 Civil Police Constable positions.

2. What specific allegations were made regarding the Veterinary Officer recruitment?
Candidates alleged that individual posts were sold for 80 lakh to 1 crore rupees and that OMR sheets were illegally swapped.

3. What observation did the Karnataka High Court make?
After reviewing the submitted evidence, the High Court remarked that the incident appeared to be a case of daylight fraud.

4. Which agencies are currently investigating the matter?
The state government has halted recruitment, handed the case to the CID, and set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

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