The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday conducted a spot mahazar at the Sanjay Nagar residence of Basavraj Kannale, a key suspect in the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, as investigators examined suspected money trails linked to irregularities in the Veterinary Officers’ Recruitment Exam.
CID officers escorted Kannale, one of two key suspects currently in custody, to the Bengaluru property in the afternoon. Investigators suspect that the alleged irregularities were orchestrated from premises in Sanjay Nagar and Bhalki in Bidar district. The Sanjay Nagar house is also being examined over allegations that deals with candidates were executed there.
The house had been searched earlier, before Kannale’s arrest. The latest mahazar forms part of a wider investigation into allegations of manipulation in the final selection process for the Veterinary Officers’ Recruitment Exam conducted by the KPSC, the state body responsible for competitive examinations for government jobs in Karnataka.
The CID had on Wednesday conducted a mahazar at the OMR answer-sheet strong room and the KPSC office in Bengaluru. Investigators also examined documents at Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha, a cooperative society in Lecture Colony, Bhalki.
According to the report, Kannale had accounts at the cooperative society in the names of relatives. Investigators are examining whether those accounts were used to launder alleged proceeds connected to the case. The report did not specify the amount of money allegedly involved or identify the documents recovered during the examination of the cooperative society’s records.
The CID is also continuing to interrogate IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, another key suspect in custody. Former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar may be summoned again for questioning, after appearing before the CID once more than a week ago.
The investigation follows allegations of irregularities in the final selection process for the Veterinary Officers’ Recruitment Exam. The latest searches cover locations associated with the suspected handling of candidates, examination records and financial transactions. The report did not state whether chargesheets had been filed or whether the recruitment process had been cancelled or revised.
The CID’s next steps will include continued questioning of the suspects and examination of records collected from the KPSC premises, the OMR strong room and the cooperative society in Bidar.
