KPSC Scam: Candidates Allegedly Taken to Resorts for Leaked Paper Training, Says ED

The investigation has also revealed that certain KPSC members and officials allegedly misused confidential information from the 1:3 merit list to identify candidates with a strong likelihood of selection and demand bribes from them, according to the ED.

The Bengaluru unit of the agency made the revelations on Thursday while detailing its probe into the alleged cash-for-selection racket and suspected proceeds of crime linked to the KPSC Veterinary Officers' Recruitment Examination for 400 posts.

The ED said it had arrested suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and KPSC member B.V. Geetha as part of the investigation, based on FIRs registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The arrests followed custodial interrogations and investigation into alleged question paper leaks, examination malpractice and corruption in the recruitment process.

The two accused were produced before the Special Court for PMLA cases in Bengaluru on October 7, following which the court granted the ED 14 days of custody for further investigation.

According to the agency, 10 successful candidates were taken to a resort or Airbnb villa on the outskirts of Bengaluru a day before the examination. They were allegedly provided with a question paper containing the correct options for 80 questions and instructed to practise and memorise the answers.

The ED alleged that the question paper containing the correct answers was leaked by then KPSC Controller of Examinations and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar through his alleged associate, BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale. The leaked material was subsequently provided to the 10 candidates, according to the agency.

The ED further alleged that Kannale collected between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh from each candidate in exchange for facilitating their final selection in the Veterinary Officers' recruitment examination.

Gangwar and Kannale were arrested by the ED under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on September 18 and 17, respectively. The Special Court subsequently granted the agency 14 days of custody for their interrogation.

Following the completion of his ED custody, Gangwar was remanded to judicial custody by the Special Court for PMLA cases in Bengaluru. During questioning, he allegedly provided information about irregularities in the conduct of several KPSC recruitment examinations, the ED said.

The agency said its investigation, along with material seized from a KPSC official and information obtained during the questioning of Gangwar, indicated that certain KPSC members and officials allegedly exploited confidential information connected to the 1:3 merit list to persuade candidates to pay bribes by assuring them of selection.

The ED explained that the KPSC generally does not publish individual candidates' marks while releasing the 1:3 eligibility list. However, certain members and officials allegedly obtained confidential merit positions from the Controller of Examinations' office and analysed candidates' prospects of securing final selection.

According to the agency, the confidential information was then allegedly used to approach candidates and promise them selection in return for illegal gratification.

The investigation also found that alleged bribe demands varied depending on the post, ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh in exchange for assurances of selection.

The ED said the alleged misuse of confidential merit information was used to extract illegal payments and thereby generate proceeds of crime.

Earlier searches conducted by the agency had led to the seizure of blank signed cheques worth Rs 80 lakh, along with blank signed promissory notes, from one of the successful candidates.

The ED said its investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities, question paper leaks, bribery and generation of proceeds of crime is continuing.