'Rahul Gandhi should reveal who possesses Rs 22 lakh diamond necklace': Sambit Patra on alleged KPSC scam
BJP MP Sambit Patra alleges massive KPSC exam paper leak and demands Rahul Gandhi reveal the owner of a seized Rs 22 lakh diamond necklace.
BJP MP Sambit Patra has intensified his attack on the Congress leadership, demanding that Rahul Gandhi disclose the identity of the person in possession of a diamond necklace valued at Rs 22 lakh. The demand comes amidst growing allegations of a massive scam involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) examination.
Allegations of Paper Leak and Massive Bribery
Speaking at a press conference, Patra detailed a sophisticated operation involving the illegal sale of examination papers. He claimed that investigations conducted by the state CID and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have uncovered a racket where exam papers were allegedly leaked and sold to candidates for exorbitant sums of money.
According to Patra, the controversy was first brought to light by S Manjunath, who produced an incriminating audio recording in which a sum of Rs 80 lakh was allegedly demanded. This exposure led to widespread public outrage and prompted the Karnataka government to hand the investigation over to the CID, with the ED also conducting its own probe.
The Modus Operandi of the Scam
Patra outlined a specific timeline and method used by the accused to manipulate the examination process:
- The Leak: It is alleged that Gyanendra Kumar, an IAS officer serving as the Controller of Examinations for the KPSC, leaked the paper on January 7, 2026.
- The Digital Transfer: The questions and answers were reportedly saved onto a pen drive and handed over to a middleman identified as Basavaraj Kanale.
- The Sales Pitch: Kanale allegedly approached various candidates, offering the leaked papers for prices ranging from Rs 30 lakh to as high as Rs 80 lakh.
- The 'Rehearsal': Candidates who agreed to the bribes were allegedly taken to a resort-cum-hotel on the outskirts of Bengaluru a day before the exam to rehearse the leaked questions and answers.
Patra further claimed that the financial scale of the scam was immense. He alleged that approximately Rs 1.52 crore was collected in the first installment from just 11 candidates alone, with individual payments ranging between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. He also stated that the middleman allegedly handed over Rs 1.30 crore to Gyanendra Kumar.
The Mystery of the Rs 22 Lakh Necklace
A central point of Patra's attack was the seizure of a diamond necklace worth Rs 22 lakh during the investigation. He questioned why the ownership of such a significant item remains a mystery and directly challenged Rahul Gandhi to provide clarity.
"Rahul Gandhi should also reveal the truth about the necklace, specifically, who possesses the necklace worth Rs 22 lakh," Patra stated.
The BJP MP concluded by hinting that more explosive details are yet to come. He promised that subsequent press conferences would reveal the full extent of the corruption and identify exactly who received the diamond necklace as a gift.