CID Takes Over Investigation Into Alleged 80 Lakh KPSC Recruitment Fraud
Karnataka authorities have moved two criminal cases involving Veterinary Officer recruitment to the Crime Investigation Department following allegations of job-selling. Investigators are examining suspicious bank transfers and audio recordings linking middlemen to potential agency insiders.
State Escalates Inquiry into Recruitment Irregularities
The Karnataka government has reassigned two First Information Reports (FIRs) concerning the Veterinary Officer hiring process from the Vidhana Soudha Police Station to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). This decision, sanctioned by the Director General and Inspector General of Police, follows intense pressure from opposition parties for a high-level probe. The investigation centers on claims that government positions were offered for as much as 80 lakh each, potentially involving individuals within the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) itself.
Evidence and Detainees Under Scrutiny
Law enforcement officials are currently interrogating two primary suspects identified as middlemen: Sikandar Chaudhary, a 46-year-old headmaster from Vijayapura, and Arif Mohammed Mulla, 45, from Bagalkot. The arrests followed a formal complaint by KPSC Assistant Secretary B.R. Veena, who alleged that Mulla solicited 70 lakh from candidates in exchange for exam answers. Key evidence identified by investigators includes:
- A 1.5 lakh bank transfer from an applicant’s account to Sikandar Chaudhary, which resulted in the freezing of the account.
- A recorded conversation involving Mulla and an aspirant, where a job price of 80 lakh and an advance of 40 lakh were reportedly discussed.
- A pending forensic voice analysis scheduled to authenticate the audio obtained by student activists and a candidate.
While the suspects claim they merely exploited the KPSC name to defraud hopefuls, the police are vetting possible connections to commission staff. Investigators seek to determine if internal personnel facilitated the movement of sensitive exam data or influenced the selection process.
Broader Legal Context and Government Response
This recruitment scandal currently spans three distinct legal cases. While the CID manages the two newly transferred files—one initiated by the Department of Animal Husbandry and another by an aspirant named Manjunath—a third case involving the daughter of the KPSC Chairman is stalled. Further movement on that specific inquiry awaits a ruling from the High Court. Home Minister Priyank Kharge announced that the transition to the CID ensures a fearlessly impartial process. Kharge stated that the administration intends to protect the transparency of public appointments and will pursue strict legal consequences against any individual found guilty, regardless of their institutional standing.
Source: The Hindu — Home
