BENGALURU: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has detained IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in connection with the probe into alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment examination for veterinary officers.
Gangwar, a 2016-batch IAS officer from Uttar Pradesh, was questioned by CID officials on Friday and Saturday after appearing before the investigating officer in response to a notice. He was subsequently detained on Sunday, with officials alleging that he was not cooperating fully with the investigation.
The development marks a major turn in the probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination for 400 veterinary officer posts, including allegations of OMR sheet tampering, compromised examination records and a possible job-for-cash racket.
Gangwar Questioned for Over 21 Hours
Gangwar appeared at the CID headquarters on Palace Road on Friday and again on Saturday for questioning.
According to officials, he was questioned for more than nine hours on Friday and over 13 hours on Saturday, taking the total questioning time to more than 21 hours over two days.
He had been directed to appear again on Saturday after the first round of questioning.
A senior IPS officer alleged that Gangwar was not fully cooperating with investigators and was avoiding giving clear answers to questions concerning the examination process.
The CID subsequently detained him, with officials indicating that his custodial interrogation may be required to further investigate his role in the alleged irregularities.
Gangwar is expected to be produced before the jurisdictional court, where the CID is likely to seek his custody for further investigation.
Gangwar Was KPSC Controller of Examinations
The investigation is closely examining Gangwar’s tenure as Controller of Examinations at the KPSC from February 2024 to March 2026.
He is currently serving as Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the Karnataka Department of Industries and Commerce.
The veterinary officer recruitment examination was conducted in January 2026, during Gangwar’s tenure as Controller of Examinations. The final selection list was subsequently released on July 17.
The CID is examining the handling of examination records, OMR sheets and confidential material, besides investigating whether KPSC officials or other individuals were involved in manipulating the recruitment process.
Allegations of OMR Tampering and Job-for-Cash Racket
The controversy began after veterinary doctors who appeared for the recruitment examination approached the Vidhana Soudha police, alleging widespread irregularities in the selection process.
Among the allegations was that OMR sheets had been tampered with to benefit certain candidates.
The complainants also alleged the existence of a job-for-cash racket, claiming that middlemen demanded between ₹70 lakh and ₹80 lakh from candidates in exchange for securing appointments.
The aspirants reportedly submitted audio recordings to support their allegations of alleged monetary deals.
The complaints also raised questions over the conduct of the examination, with allegations that some candidates had written the examination at resorts. Questions were also raised about the unusually high marks obtained by certain selected candidates.
Some aspirants further alleged that certain successful candidates were related to influential KPSC officials and that some selected candidates had previously failed their degree examinations.
These allegations are part of the broader investigation and have not yet been established as fact.
CID Sends 658 OMR Sheets for Forensic Examination
As part of its investigation, the CID has sent 658 OMR sheets to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.
Investigators are examining the sheets for signs of tampering or manipulation.
The forensic findings are expected to be significant in determining whether the OMR sheets were altered and whether the alleged manipulation was part of a larger conspiracy to influence the recruitment process.
The CID is also investigating whether confidential examination material was compromised and whether any KPSC officials played a role in the alleged irregularities.
ED Also Probing the Case
The KPSC examination controversy has also come under the scrutiny of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a separate money-laundering investigation.
The ED searched Gangwar’s Bengaluru residence on August 23, besides conducting searches at premises in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
The agency has also raised questions over the handling of confidential KAS examination material.
According to the ED, mandatory CCTV footage relating to the preparation and printing of KAS question papers in Gangwar’s chamber was absent.
The agency has noted that the Controller of Examinations was authorised to select and print the question paper, making the role and procedures followed in the examination process an important part of the investigation.
What the CID Is Investigating
The CID probe is examining multiple aspects of the veterinary officer recruitment examination, including:
- Alleged tampering of OMR answer sheets.
- Handling and security of confidential examination material.
- The alleged job-for-cash racket involving demands of ₹70 lakh to ₹80 lakh.
- The role of KPSC officials and other individuals.
- Allegations concerning unusually high marks obtained by certain candidates.
- Claims regarding candidates allegedly writing examinations at resorts.
- Possible links between selected candidates and influential KPSC officials.
The investigation will also seek to establish whether any examination records were deliberately manipulated and whether officials responsible for the examination process facilitated or overlooked any irregularities.
IAS Officer’s Current Posting
Gangwar is currently posted as Director, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Department of Industries and Commerce, Karnataka.
His earlier role as KPSC Controller of Examinations places him at the centre of the investigation into the January 2026 veterinary officer examination.
The CID’s decision to detain him follows two days of prolonged questioning and comes as investigators examine both documentary and forensic evidence connected with the recruitment process.
The case is now likely to move before the jurisdictional court, where the CID may seek custodial interrogation to investigate the allegations further.
Read Also: KPSC Recruitment Probe: CID Questions IAS Officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar for Over Nine Hours
