Published Sep 03, 2026 | 9:04 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 03, 2026 | 9:26 PM
Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar.
Synopsis: The suspension order noted that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar has been in CID’s custody for more than 48 hours. It added that the government prima facie found the officer violated Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules.
The Government of Karnataka on Thursday, 3 September, placed IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers, under suspension.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which has been probing the recruitment scam, had arrested Gangwar on 29 August, after two days of questioning.
He was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody on 30 August. The next day, the CID took custody of the 2016-batch IAS officer.
Before his arrest, Gangwar made headlines after going incommunicado for two days from 20 August. He later informed the government that he had gone to attend to a family emergency. Gangwar had served as the Controller of Examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission from February 2024 to March 2026.
Noting that he has been in official custody for more than 48 hours, the suspension order said, “the State Government is satisfied prima facie that the conduct of the officer is in gross violation of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and it is necessary to place Sri Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS, under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders, pending further investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department”.
The suspension took immediate effect and will remain in force “until further orders, pending further investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department”.
It has been alleged that Gangwar received ₹1.1 crore from two candidates in exchange for tampering with their optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets.
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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.
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.
