The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made several sensational revelations in its probe into alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s (KPSC) Veterinary Officer recruitment examination involving IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale, alleging that candidates were given leaked question papers with correct answers and taken to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru to memorise them ahead of the test.
Based on the material gathered during the investigation and the reasons to believe recorded under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED arrested Kannale on September 17. He was subsequently produced before the Special Court for PMLA cases (CCH-4), which granted 14 days’ custody to the ED on September 29. Gangwar was formally arrested by the ED on September 18 for his alleged role in facilitating the generation of proceeds of crime arising from the scheduled criminal activity.
The official statement released on Wednesday by the ED said its investigation into the examination conducted for the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers revealed that accused IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale, allegedly in connivance with his associates, facilitated the illegal selection of candidates in return for illegal gratification.
Kannale obtained access to the leaked question paper through his close association with Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS, the then Controller of Examinations at KPSC, who was entrusted with the custody and supervision of confidential examination material, according to the agency.
The investigation also revealed that the bank account of Om Lakshmi Sowkar Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha, Bidar, was allegedly used to receive amounts connected with the illegal gratification, the ED said. The investigation revealed that around Rs 80 lakh was initially demanded from each candidate, which was later negotiated to between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 40 lakh per candidate. He was produced before the Special Court on September 21, and the court granted 14 days’ custody to the ED for further investigation.
Further investigation is under progress, the ED said.
