The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that four people linked to the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s veterinary officer recruitment process operated a network to sell question papers, answer keys and promises of appointment to candidates. The agency said the former KPSC chairman, a commission member, an examination controller and an intermediary were involved in the alleged malpractice.
The four identified people are former KPSC chairman Shivashankar Sahukar, member B.V. Geetha, examination controller Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and intermediary Basavaraj Kannale. According to the Enforcement Directorate, all four are currently in its custody in connection with the case.
The agency said Sahukar and Geetha contacted candidates and offered to provide an 80-question paper along with the answer key. They allegedly demanded up to ₹50 lakh from some candidates and agreed to accept ₹40 lakh in certain cases. The two reportedly obtained candidates’ roll numbers and the question-paper series expected to be supplied to them from Gangwar.
Gangwar, who was responsible for maintaining secrecy during the examination, allegedly handed over the question-paper series and answer keys being used for specific candidates to Sahukar and Geetha, the ED said. The agency stated that Sahukar received ₹10 lakh from one candidate for providing an answer key, while Geetha received an advance of ₹20 lakh from another candidate.
The ED said six candidates who obtained answer keys through the two former KPSC functionaries were found to have secured the highest marks in the examination. It added that investigators were collecting information about all candidates who had been in contact with them.
The agency also alleged that Gangwar and Kannale contacted candidates with offers to provide question papers. They reportedly demanded ₹80 lakh from each candidate and brought 10 candidates together at an Airbnb villa resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where question papers and answer keys were allegedly supplied. Kannale is alleged to have collected between ₹40 lakh and ₹50 lakh from each candidate for the arrangement.
The alleged recruitment-for-money network also used the provisional selection list published in a 1:3 ratio, according to the ED. Gangwar and Kannale reportedly used the list to approach candidates and demanded bribes ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, depending on the post, while promising to secure their appointments.
The case is also being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department. The CID produced seven candidates before a court on Thursday, where their statements were recorded. The candidates identified in the report include Raj Mohammed, Siddharth, Basavaraj and Suhail. The court recorded the statements of all seven candidates.
The allegations place the examination controller’s role in focus because the post carries responsibility for maintaining the confidentiality of examination materials. The investigation is expected to establish the full list of candidates contacted, the flow of alleged payments and the extent to which the examination and provisional selection process were affected.
