Lucknow: Retired IAS officer Yogesh Kumar, a 1980-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Livestock Extension Officers in the state’s Animal Husbandry Department in 2014.
According to the information provided, the EOW team arrested Kumar from the Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow after investigators found evidence pointing to his alleged involvement in the recruitment irregularities. EOW Director General JN Singh confirmed the arrest, stating that the agency had taken action after examining the evidence gathered during the investigation.
The case relates to the recruitment of 1,198 Livestock Extension Officers during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party government led by then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Kumar was serving as Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department when the recruitment process was conducted.
The case has remained under investigation for years, with allegations that established recruitment procedures were bypassed and the evaluation of candidates’ answer sheets was handled in a manner that enabled manipulation. Earlier reports also identified Kumar and the then Animal Husbandry Minister Rajkishore Singh among those against whom investigators found evidence warranting further legal action.
Who Is Yogesh Kumar?
Yogesh Kumar is a retired Indian Administrative Service officer who belonged to the 1980 batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. During his administrative career, he served in the state government and held the position of Principal Secretary in the Animal Husbandry Department.
His name has come into focus because of his role in the department during the recruitment of Livestock Extension Officers in 2014. As the department’s Principal Secretary at the time, he was among the senior officials whose alleged involvement in the recruitment irregularities came under scrutiny during the investigation.
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The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which examined the recruitment process, reportedly identified serious procedural deviations and recommended action against officials found responsible. Subsequent reporting in April 2023 stated that evidence had been found against Kumar, former Animal Husbandry Minister Rajkishore Singh and two other officials, and that the authorities had sought the necessary approval for prosecution.
Kumar has since retired from the IAS. His arrest marks a significant development in the long-running case, which concerns alleged irregularities in a government recruitment exercise conducted more than a decade ago.
What Is the 2014 Animal Husbandry Recruitment Scam?
The case concerns the selection of 1,198 candidates for the posts of Livestock Extension Officers, known in Hindi as Pashudhan Prasar Adhikari, in Uttar Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry Department.
The recruitment drive was conducted in 2014, when the Samajwadi Party was in power in the state. The examination took place on February 2, 2014, and the selection process covered 17 administrative divisions, according to reports on the investigation.
Allegations of large-scale irregularities emerged during the recruitment exercise. Investigators subsequently examined whether the prescribed selection procedures had been followed and whether the process had been manipulated to influence candidates’ marks and selection outcomes.
The investigation reportedly found that the recruitment process departed from established rules, raising questions about the manner in which answer sheets were evaluated and the authority exercised by the selection committees.
How Were the Recruitment Rules Allegedly Violated?
Investigators reportedly identified several irregularities in the recruitment process. One of the central allegations concerned the handling and evaluation of candidates’ Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) answer sheets.
Under the recruitment procedure, the selection process was expected to follow prescribed rules and the responsibilities assigned to the relevant selection committees. However, the investigation found that the evaluation of OMR sheets had been centralised at a single location rather than being handled according to the established arrangements.
This centralisation allegedly created scope for manipulation of candidates’ marks. Investigators also found that the authority of district- or divisional-level selection committees had been bypassed or withdrawn, raising concerns about the transparency and integrity of the selection process.
The alleged procedural violations became a key part of the investigation into the recruitment exercise. Earlier reports described serious deviations from the prescribed rules and stated that forensic examination of relevant documents formed part of the inquiry.
The allegations concern the integrity of a recruitment exercise involving more than a thousand government posts. The investigation has sought to establish the responsibility of the officials and other individuals allegedly involved in the irregularities.
Why Was Yogesh Kumar Arrested?
Yogesh Kumar was serving as Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department when the recruitment process was conducted. Investigators examined his role in the administrative decisions associated with the selection exercise and reportedly found evidence warranting further legal action.
According to EOW Director General JN Singh, the agency arrested Kumar in Lucknow after finding evidence against him. The arrest is linked to the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 1,198 Livestock Extension Officers.
The action follows years of investigation into the case. Earlier reporting indicated that the SIT had recommended criminal and departmental action against officials after examining the recruitment records and other evidence.
In April 2023, reports stated that the authorities had sought prosecution approval in relation to Kumar, former minister Rajkishore Singh and two other officials. The latest arrest represents a further development in the investigation.
The allegations against Kumar remain subject to the legal process. His arrest should not be treated as a finding of guilt, which must be determined through the appropriate judicial proceedings.
What Is the Role of Former Minister Rajkishore Singh?
Rajkishore Singh was the Animal Husbandry Minister in the Samajwadi Party government when the recruitment exercise took place in 2014.
His name also emerged during the investigation into the alleged irregularities. Reports published in April 2023 stated that investigators had found evidence against Singh, Kumar and two other officials and had sought government approval to initiate prosecution proceedings against them.
According to the information provided in the present case brief, the file seeking approval for legal action against Singh remains pending government approval.
The investigation into the recruitment process has therefore extended beyond the officials directly responsible for conducting the examination and evaluating answer sheets. It has also examined the possible responsibility of senior administrative and political figures associated with the department at the time.
Any further action against the former minister will depend on the relevant approvals and the subsequent legal proceedings.
How Long Has the Investigation Been Going On?
The recruitment scam has remained under scrutiny for several years. Although the recruitment examination was conducted in February 2014, the investigation into the alleged irregularities continued long after the selection exercise.
According to reports published in April 2023, the SIT submitted an investigation report in 2018 and a final investigation report in 2021. These reports reportedly identified serious procedural violations and recommended action against officials found responsible.
The inquiry also involved the examination of documents and forensic laboratory findings. Investigators reportedly used the findings to assess whether the recruitment rules had been violated and to determine the possible role of officials in the alleged manipulation.
Earlier reporting stated that criminal prosecution approval had been sought against Kumar, Singh and two other officials. The arrest of Kumar is a major subsequent development in the case, bringing renewed attention to a recruitment process conducted during the previous Samajwadi Party government.
EOW Investigation and Further Legal Proceedings
The Economic Offences Wing of the Uttar Pradesh Police is investigating the alleged recruitment scam. The agency’s action against Kumar follows the examination of evidence related to the recruitment process.
EOW Director General JN Singh confirmed that Kumar had been arrested from Gomti Nagar in Lucknow. Further legal proceedings are underway, according to the information provided.
The case raises questions about compliance with recruitment rules, the handling of examination records and accountability within government departments. Its outcome will depend on the evidence presented during the legal process and the findings of the competent court.
With Kumar’s arrest, the investigation has reached a significant stage. The next developments are expected to clarify the legal proceedings against the retired IAS officer and the status of action involving other individuals named in the case.
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