Published Aug 29, 2026 | 10:24 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2026 | 10:24 PM
Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar.
Synopsis: The 2016-batch IAS officer’s arrest came a day after investigators questioned him for nine hours in Bengaluru. It is alleged that Gangwar, previously the controller of examinations at the KSPSC, received ₹1.1 crore from two candidates in exchange for tampering with their OMR sheets.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police on Saturday, 29 August, arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in connection with irregularities in the veterinary officers’ examination conducted by the State Public Service Commission (KSPC). He is expected to be produced before a magistrate on Sunday.
Gangwar was in the news recently after he remained incommunicado for two days from 20 August. He later contacted the government, saying he had to attend to a family emergency in his hometown. Home Minister Priyank Kharge then said that no IAS officer had gone missing.
The 2016-batch IAS officer’s arrest came a day after investigators questioned him for nine hours in Bengaluru. It has been alleged that Gangwar, previously the controller of examinations at the KSPSC, received ₹1.1 crore from two candidates in exchange for tampering with their optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets.
A First Information Report said he was arrested under Section 318 (3) of the BNS and Section 10 of the Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption & Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act.
On 23 August, the Directorate of Enforcement searched his residence in Jayamahal Extension, Bengaluru.
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The Karnataka government had transferred the case to the CID on 28 July. The department probed the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers. Two cases were originally registered at the Vidhana Soudha police station.
The cases were registered based on a complaint by veterinarian Manjunath, who accused the suspended former KPSC chairman, Shivashankarappa S Sahukara, and others of engaging in large-scale irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers for the state Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department.
Manjunath alleged that several relatives of the chairman, members and staff secured high marks in the examination held on 8 and 9 January, despite their average academic records. He added that some candidates who had cleared national-level competitive exams scored relatively poorly in the state-held test.
Some candidates also alleged that several shortlisted candidates switched off their mobile phones a day before or on the day of the examination. They were allegedly lodged in hotels and resorts outside Karnataka, where intermediaries gave them the questions.
Manjunath also raised doubts over the authenticity of OMR answer sheets. He alleged that candidates who had left several questions unanswered scored highly. He said intermediaries offered to manipulate OMR sheets for up to ₹80 lakh.
The Karnataka High Court had temporarily stayed the final selection list.
