Published Oct 07, 2026 | 11:37 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2026 | 11:37 AM
KPSC logo. (Supplied)
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday, 7 October, has arrested suspended former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and commission member BV Geetha in its money-laundering probe into alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment.
The arrests followed searches conducted by the agency on Tuesday, 6 October. The probe includes alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers, in which the ED is investigating allegations of question-paper and answer leakage, bribery and manipulation of the selection process.
The ED is probing the money trail in the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, based on multiple FIRs registered at the Vidhana Soudha police station in Bengaluru under Sections 318(3), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The two were produced before a judge following their arrests, with the ED seeking their custody for further interrogation. They are expected to be produced before the Special PMLA Court in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The arrests take the number of persons arrested by the ED in the case to four, after former KPSC Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale.
The ED has also told the court in earlier proceedings that 13 KPSC recruitment processes conducted during 2024–26 require investigation.
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 Sumavarsha, with inputs from Keerthivas)
