The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has intensified questioning of former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers. The team, led by Additional Director General of Police R. Hitendra, took Sahukar into custody after the first ACMM court granted the request until November 19.
Sahukar, who was lodged at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, is being questioned about the alleged recruitment manipulation. Investigators are recording his statement and putting documents gathered during the probe before him. According to the report, he did not provide clear answers to some questions based on the records presented by the team.
The SIT is continuing the investigation earlier conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID had questioned Sahukar, KPSC member B.V. Geetha, alleged intermediary Basavaraj Kannale and suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in connection with the case.
The case relates to complaints that irregularities took place in a KPSC examination for veterinary officer posts. An applicant first approached the Vidhana Soudha police station, after which two more cases were registered over similar allegations. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the CID.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which began investigating alleged money laundering linked to the recruitment case, had arrested Sahukar and sent him to jail. The High Court later constituted the SIT to investigate the matter.
The ED has said it attached movable assets worth Rs 1.22 crore belonging to Sahukar, Geetha and Gangwar in connection with the alleged recruitment irregularities. Its findings, as reported by Prajavani, include allegations that six candidates who paid money were provided incorrect answer keys and that their seats were changed inside the examination hall.
The ED has further alleged that Gangwar gave question papers and answer keys intended for 10 candidates to Kannale on January 7, 2026. Kannale allegedly gathered the candidates at a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru and provided the material on January 8, a day before the examination. The report said the examination was held on January 9.
According to the ED’s account, the answer keys given to candidates associated with Sahukar were incorrect. Geetha allegedly gave their roll numbers to Gangwar so that their seating arrangements could be changed to match the question papers corresponding to the supplied keys. The ED has also alleged that Sahukar promised higher interview marks for a candidate linked to Gangwar in return for the assistance.
The agency has alleged that Sahukar collected Rs 10 lakh in cash from candidates and obtained the remaining amount through blank cheques and promissory notes. It further said that Rs 52.30 lakh worth of gold and diamond jewellery was purchased for Gangwar, while air tickets valued at Rs 13.31 lakh were bought for Gangwar and family members. The SIT’s custody of Sahukar continues until November 19, when the next court-authorised stage of the investigation is due.
