The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has ordered an inquiry into the sharp difference between a candidate’s scores in two recruitment examinations held 20 days apart, after Shankar Bannur scored 151 out of 200 in the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) examination and emerged as the Haveri district topper.
Bannur, 31, had scored 25 per cent in the Karnataka State Reserve Police constable examination conducted shortly before the VAO test, according to the report. The difference prompted questions about the validity of the VAO result after details of his academic marks and examination scores were shared on social media.
KEA executive director H Prasanna has written to the Haveri deputy commissioner and the district chief examination superintendent, directing them to examine CCTV footage from the examination centre and conduct a comprehensive inquiry. Officials have also been asked to file a police complaint if the investigation establishes the need for criminal action.
“Many people have raised doubts on social media and have alleged corruption. The investigations have been ordered to clear the doubts,” Prasanna said, according to the report.
The inquiry comes as Karnataka faces scrutiny over irregularities and allegations linked to government recruitment. The VAO examination was conducted by KEA on October 4. Bannur scored 75.5 per cent in the test, while his earlier KSRP constable examination score was 25 per cent.
Officials are also examining inconsistencies in information provided in Bannur’s recruitment applications. According to sources cited in the report, he entered 2013 as his year of passing Pre-University in the VAO application, while his KSRP application reportedly stated that he had passed the examination in 2026. The report does not establish whether the difference resulted from an error or any deliberate misstatement.
Prasanna said Bannur had previously applied for City Armed Reserve and District Armed Reserve recruitment but had not appeared for those examinations. He had also applied for the post of jailer, for which the examination was scheduled to be held shortly, according to the report.
The KEA executive director said the signatures on Bannur’s applications and optical mark recognition sheets matched. He also said examination-hall verification showed that Bannur had appeared for the VAO examination. These findings, however, do not resolve the questions surrounding the score discrepancy, and the authority has not reached a final conclusion.
“I am not giving any verdict at this point but have ordered an investigation and am waiting for the report,” Prasanna said. The inquiry will determine whether the score difference resulted from an examination or record-related issue and whether further action, including a police complaint, is required.
