Published Oct 07, 2026 | 7:07 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2026 | 7:07 PM
Kannale is currently in judicial custody and is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate and the CID in the alleged scam.
Synopsis: A Bengaluru court has restrained media organisations from publishing or circulating ‘unfounded’ reports about Basavaraj Kannale and his family in connection with the alleged KPSC veterinary officers’ recruitment exam paper leak. The court also ordered the removal of already published material.
A Bengaluru court has restrained media organisations from publishing, telecasting or circulating ‘unfounded’ reports about Basavaraj Kannale, the prime accused in the case involving the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) veterinary doctors’ recruitment exam paper leak, and his family in connection with the case.
The XV Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Sudha Seturam Onkar, in an order dated 5 October on two applications filed by Kannale, also directed the defendants to disable public access to material already published or uploaded containing unfounded news about Kannale and his family.
The interim order will remain in force until 2 November, when the court is scheduled to hear the case next.
Kannale is currently in judicial custody and is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate and the CID in the alleged scam.
The court said its examination of the plaint and documents showed that the defendants had published and uploaded unverified news relating to the KPSC recruitment investigation and had thereby damaged the plaintiff’s reputation.
It held that the case was fit for an ex parte temporary injunction and that waiting to issue notice to the defendants before granting the injunction would defeat its purpose.
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The ED earlier said its investigation into the alleged KPSC veterinary doctors’ recruitment exam paper leak found that candidates who paid ₹30 lakh to ₹40 lakh each for selection as veterinary officers were taken to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, given the leaked recruitment examination paper with the correct answers and made to memorise them before being driven to their examination centres the next day.
In a statement on 30 September, the agency said the paper was leaked one day before the examination for 400 Veterinary Officer posts and supplied by the principal accused, Basavaraj Kannale, who had allegedly obtained it through Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS, then Controller of Examinations of the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Around ₹80 lakh was initially demanded from each candidate before the amount was negotiated down to ₹30 lakh–₹40 lakh, according to the agency.
Portions were collected in cash and through banking channels. Some candidates were made to furnish blank signed cheques and promissory notes to secure the balance, some of which the agency said were later recovered and seized.
The bank account of M/s Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha, Bidar, was also used to receive some amounts connected with the alleged illegal gratification, the ED said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
