ED Arrests Suspended KPSC Chairman and Member in Massive Scam
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa and member BV Geetha in a massive veterinary officer recruitment scam.
In a major crackdown on administrative corruption, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested the suspended chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, and KPSC member BV Geetha. The arrests are linked to a high-profile money laundering investigation involving severe irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
The arrests took place following a fresh search operation conducted by the ED's Bengaluru zonal office at the residences of the accused. Both Sahukar and Geetha are scheduled to be produced before a special PMLA court later today.
A Growing Web of Corruption
This latest development marks a significant escalation in an investigation that has already seen several high-ranking officials taken into custody. The ED's probe follows the recent arrests of:
- Basavaraj Kannale: Arrested on September 17.
- Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar: The former KPSC Examination Controller (an IAS officer), arrested on September 18.
These individuals were apprehended for their alleged involvement in leaking question papers for the veterinary officers' recruitment exam. Investigations suggest that candidates were offered selection in exchange for illegal bribes ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 40 lakh each.
The Scale of the Investigation
The Enforcement Directorate has been conducting extensive operations to uncover the full extent of the scam. On August 18, the agency carried out searches at 21 different locations across Karnataka and Gujarat. The locations included:
- In Karnataka: Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburgi, and Belagavi.
- In Gujarat: Ahmedabad.
The search operations covered a wide range of premises, including the KPSC office, the residences of suspended Chairman Sahukar and KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, offices of middlemen, and the premises of Edutest Solutions Pvt Ltd—the entity responsible for the digital evaluation of exam papers. The agency also searched the homes of candidates who had been selected for the veterinary officer posts.
Allegations of Massive Bribes and Tampering
The investigation was triggered by four FIRs registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru. These complaints alleged deep-rooted irregularities in the final selection process of the veterinary officers' exam. According to the ED, the corruption was brazenly systematic:
- Extortionate Demands: Middlemen reportedly contacted candidates, including the original complainant, demanding bribes as high as Rs 70 lakhs to Rs 80 lakhs per person to guarantee selection.
- Evidence Provided: The complainant has reportedly submitted audio recordings of these middlemen to law enforcement agencies to substantiate the claims.
- Systemic Manipulation: Beyond paper leaks, the complaints include allegations of tampering with OMR answer sheets and the illegal facilitation of the selection of relatives of KPSC officials.
As the ED continues its probe, the focus remains on how deep the nexus goes between officials, middlemen, and the private entities involved in the examination process.