Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against four people, including suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, in connection with an alleged recruitment scam involving the appointment of veterinary doctors in Karnataka. The complaint follows more than three months of investigation into the alleged laundering of bribe money paid by candidates to secure recruitment through leaked examination papers and answer keys.
The four accused named in the chargesheet are Sahukar, 62; KPSC member B V Geetha, 46; former KPSC Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a 2016-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, 41; and alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale, 36.
According to the ED, the accused allegedly leaked question papers and answer keys to around 19 candidates, who reportedly paid bribes ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh to secure veterinary doctor posts.
Sources said the prosecution complaint, filed on Friday, runs into 585 pages, while the supporting documents exceed 8,000 pages. The ED filed the complaint ahead of the November 17 deadline, which marks 60 days since the first arrest in the case.
ED Investigation into Karnataka Veterinary Recruitment Scam
The ED investigation has revealed alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination conducted by the KPSC for veterinary doctor posts. The agency claims that examination papers and answer keys were shared with selected candidates before the examination, giving them an unfair advantage.
The examination was conducted in Bengaluru on January 8 and 9. According to the ED, the accused allegedly facilitated the leak of answer keys and question papers to candidates through a network involving KPSC officials and the alleged middleman.
The agency has also alleged that bribe money received from candidates was laundered through various means. At least nine candidates are suspected of paying bribes in exchange for access to leaked answer keys.
Read also: ED Flags ₹35-Crore ‘Dream Project’ of Arrested KPSC Chief Amid Karnataka Recruitment Scam Probe
Arrests and Bail Status of the Accused
Gangwar was the first accused arrested by the ED on September 17. The agency has alleged that he leaked answer keys to Sahukar and Geetha. He is also accused of separately providing question papers and answers to 11 aspirants allegedly brought into the arrangement by Kannale.
The bail applications of Gangwar and Kannale were rejected on October 18 and November 11, respectively.
Sahukar’s bail application was also rejected by a special ED court on November 11. However, Geetha was granted bail on the ground that she is a woman.
The ED has alleged that Sahukar and Geetha laundered proceeds generated from bribes collected from at least nine candidates in exchange for leaked answer keys.
With the filing of the prosecution complaint, all accused currently in judicial custody can seek bail afresh.
The agency will also require prosecution sanctions from the President of India, the Karnataka Governor and the Central Government to prosecute Sahukar, Geetha and Gangwar, respectively.
Top 19 Rank-Holders Under ED Scanner
One of the major findings of the ED investigation is that all 19 candidates who allegedly received question papers and answer keys before the examination secured the top 19 ranks.
According to the agency, one candidate who allegedly paid an advance of Rs 20 lakh to Geetha secured the first rank. Another candidate, who reportedly paid Rs 10 lakh to Sahukar, obtained the third rank.
The ED has further alleged that Sahukar and Geetha received bribes from nine aspirants, including candidates who secured the first, third, eighth, ninth, 11th and 12th positions in the examination.
These findings have raised serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the recruitment process.
Karnataka High Court-Formed SIT Probes Recruitment Fraud
The ED’s prosecution complaint comes amid an ongoing criminal investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka High Court.
The state police SIT has taken over the investigation into the KPSC veterinary doctors recruitment fraud. It is examining the alleged roles of Sahukar and Geetha, along with other aspects that were not investigated by the previous Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe.
The SIT investigation is expected to examine the wider network involved in the alleged examination paper leak and recruitment irregularities.
1,400 Candidates Appeared for 400 Veterinary Doctor Posts
The recruitment examination was conducted in January for 400 veterinary doctor vacancies. Around 1,400 aspirants appeared for the examination.
Of these, 328 candidates were eventually selected. However, the ED’s findings regarding the alleged advance leak of question papers and answer keys have brought the recruitment process under scrutiny.
The investigation by the ED and the state police SIT is ongoing, with the alleged involvement of KPSC officials, candidates and intermediaries being examined.
