The CID investigation into alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s veterinary officers recruitment has traced a money trail of about ₹ 1.52 crore and found evidence suggesting that as many as 60 to 80 questions from the examination were leaked to candidates, according to the probe report submitted to the government.
“Of the money traced by the CID, ₹ 92 lakh was deposited into two accounts, one held with Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha in Tilakwadi and another with Kotak Mahindra Bank. The deposits, ranging from ₹ 1 lakh to ₹ 10 lakh, were allegedly made by candidates identified in the investigation as Siddharth, Basavaraj V, Mahendra and Niranjan,” said an official in the know. The investigation has so far identified payments running into tens of lakhs of rupees, cash transactions, frozen bank accounts and purchases of jewellery allegedly linked to people being investigated in the case.
The report also records alleged cash payments by three other candidates. The probe has also followed the alleged use of proceeds from the recruitment racket to purchase jewellery. The CID has recorded Jaiswal’s statement. Gangwar and Kannale are now in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, which is conducting a separate investigation into the alleged irregularities. Investigators have alleged that Kannale approached several candidates either personally or through intermediaries. The alleged question paper leak forms a central part of the investigation. About five candidates were allegedly given practice in answering the leaked questions.
Kiran Gowda is accused of paying ₹ 10 lakh, Mohammed Sohail ₹ 20 lakh and Salim Onti ₹ 30 lakh, according to the officer. Investigators recovered a diamond and gold necklace valued at about ₹ 22 lakh, which the report says was allegedly purchased by IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar for his woman friend, Yaashi Jaiswal. The CID has questioned 40 candidates so far, including 29 who were named in the first information report, the report said. The CID report says between 60 and 80 questions were leaked to candidates.
Both had earlier been arrested and questioned by CID.
