KPSC Recruitment Scam: ED Hits 21 Sites in Karnataka
Indiadailyupdate.com – The KPSC recruitment scam has moved into a new enforcement phase as the Enforcement Directorate carried out a coordinated search-and-seizure operation across 21 locations in Karnataka and Gujarat. The action targets alleged money-laundering linked to corruption in the selection of veterinary officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission. A formal case has been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), giving investigators the authority to trace funds, seize documents, and question every individual connected to the irregularities at the centre of the KPSC recruitment scam.
The Scale of the Enforcement Action
Among the premises swept were the KPSC headquarters in Bengaluru, the residences of suspended chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar and commission member Shanta Hosmani, and the offices of several individuals identified as middlemen who allegedly brokered selections. Investigators also moved against Edutest Solutions, the private firm contracted to perform digital evaluation of examination answer sheets, as well as the homes of candidates ultimately appointed to the veterinary officer posts.
The 21 sites spanned Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, and Belgaum within Karnataka, alongside a location in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The geographic spread suggests ED is following financial trails that extend well beyond the commission’s own premises, probing how payments moved between candidates, intermediaries, and commission-linked accounts.
Allegations Behind the FIRs
ED officials confirmed that the probe rests on four first information reports lodged at the Vidhan Soudha police station in Bengaluru. Those complaints allege systematic malpractice during the final selection stage for veterinary officer appointments. At the heart of the case is the claim that intermediaries approached candidates — including the original complainant — and extracted payments described as
“ranging from Rs 70 to Rs 80 lakh (per candidate) for selection.”
The complainant in the initial police matter reportedly submitted audio recordings of those middlemen to substantiate the bribery allegations. The recordings, if authenticated, would place named individuals in direct conversation with candidates about payment terms, strengthening the evidentiary base for both criminal and money-laundering proceedings.
Broader Questions Under Investigation
Beyond the direct bribery claims, the ED inquiry is examining wider accusations that include a question-paper leak before the written examination, manipulation of OMR answer sheets during the evaluation phase, and the preferential facilitation of selections for relatives connected to KPSC officials. Each of these allegations, if substantiated, would indicate that the KPSC recruitment scam was not an isolated act of bribery but a structured operation spanning multiple stages of the hiring pipeline.
Sahukar’s Suspension and Political Context
The current enforcement action follows the July suspension of Sahukar, ordered by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. That administrative step was tied to a separate set of charges alleging that the chairman had helped secure posts as Industrial Extension Officers for his two daughters through irregular means. The suspension removed Sahukar from day-to-day commission functions while the ED probe proceeds independently, creating a parallel track of accountability for both the veterinary officer selection and the earlier Industrial Extension Officer appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the KPSC recruitment scam? It refers to allegations that candidates were asked to pay Rs 70–80 lakh each to secure veterinary officer appointments through the Karnataka Public Service Commission, with intermediaries acting as payment collectors. ED is now investigating whether those funds were laundered through multiple accounts and entities.
Who is being investigated? Suspended KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, commission member Shanta Hosmani, contracted evaluation firm Edutest Solutions, unnamed middlemen, and selected candidates are all within the scope of the searches.
What law governs the ED action? The case is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which permits ED to freeze accounts, seize records, and question suspects without waiting for a criminal trial to conclude.
Will candidates already appointed lose their posts? That depends on the outcome of both the police FIRs and the ED inquiry. Until a court or tribunal rules otherwise, appointments remain in effect, though the commission may issue interim directions once findings are finalised.
