Published Oct 01, 2026 | 8:44 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 01, 2026 | 8:44 PM
The State told the Supreme Court that a ‘de novo’ investigation could put at risk evidence already collected by the CID.
Synopsis: The Supreme Court on 1 October stayed the Karnataka High Court’s order for an SIT to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitments. The Karnataka government had challenged the order, saying the CID had completed around 80 percent of its investigation and that the High Court had not identified specific deficiencies in the probe.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, 1 October, stayed the Karnataka High Court’s 21 September order directing the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitments, the Deccan Herald reported.
A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi passed the order after hearing senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Sidharth Luthra and Karnataka’s Additional Advocate General Nishanth Patil.
The Karnataka government challenged the High Court order on 27 September, arguing that the CID had already completed around 80 percent of its investigation.
It also noted that the High Court had not identified specific deficiencies in the CID probe before ordering a fresh investigation and sought continuation of the CID probe.
The State also told the Supreme Court that a ‘de novo’ investigation could put at risk evidence already collected by the CID.
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In its order, the High Court directed a five-member SIT, headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar, to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers through the KPSC.
It directed the CID to hand over the case records to the SIT within a week. The SIT was given 100 days to complete the investigation and directed to submit progress reports to the High Court every 30 days.
Subsequently, 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.
Days after the High Court ordered the SIT probe, the State government transferred IPS officer Kushal Chouksey, who was a member of the investigation team.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
