Published Sep 24, 2026 | 12:11 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 24, 2026 | 12:11 PM
Kushal Chouksey, IPS (Facebook)
Synopsis: Karnataka has transferred IPS officer Kushal Chouksey from DCP (Administration), Bengaluru, to Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga, two days after the High Court named him to an SIT probing alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had earlier asserted that the appointment of officials was the State government’s prerogative.
The Karnataka government has transferred IPS officer Kushal Chouksey from his post as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration), Bengaluru, to Chitradurga as Superintendent of Police.
The order, dated Wednesday, 23 September, comes two days after the Karnataka High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and named Chouksey as one of its members.
Justice M Nagaprasanna constituted the SIT on 21 September. It is headed by Senior IPS Officer Alok Kumar, DGP, Prisons and Correctional Services. IPS officers Divya V Gopinath, Anup A Shetty, Chouksey and Kshama Mishra are the other members.
Chouksey had been serving as Superintendent of Police, Chikkaballapur, before he was posted as DCP (Administration), Bengaluru, less than a month ago.
After the High Court order, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the appointment of officials was the prerogative of the State government and that the matter should be “left” to the government.
“I don’t know how they [High Court] can interfere. There are several directives and legal provisions concerning the appointment of officers. I will examine that legally,” he told the media.
The High Court directed the SIT to conduct a de novo investigation into the alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment, which were being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The court said the investigation should not be confined to the persons or allegations already named in the cases. The SIT can pursue evidence concerning any other person, offence or transaction connected with the cases.
The SIT has been given 100 days from the commencement of its investigation to submit its final report. It must also submit progress reports to the High Court every 30 days.
The CID and the jurisdictional police have been directed to hand over all records and evidence in the two cases to the SIT within a week.
The High Court also directed the State government to issue a notification declaring the SIT a police station for the purposes of the investigation. It said there should be no interference with the probe.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
