Bengaluru, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News) — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at 21 locations across Karnataka and Ahmedabad as part of its investigation into alleged financial and recruitment irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) selection process for Veterinary Officers.
The searches were carried out by the ED’s Bengaluru Zonal Office under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The premises searched included the KPSC office, the residence of suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, alleged middlemen, candidates selected for Veterinary Officer posts and the premises of Edutest Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which handled digital evaluation of examination papers.
According to ED officials, the searches covered locations in Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi and Belagavi, besides Ahmedabad.
The action is linked to multiple FIRs registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru over alleged irregularities in the final selection process.
The complainant in the case allegedly told authorities that middlemen approached candidates and demanded bribes ranging from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh in exchange for securing their selection. Audio recordings purportedly documenting such demands were also submitted to investigators.
The allegations include question paper leakage, manipulation of OMR answer sheets and facilitating the selection of relatives of KPSC officials.
The controversy intensified after the final selection list for 400 Veterinary Officer posts was released on July 17, following the examination held on January 8. Allegations subsequently surfaced that seats were being offered for Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore through middlemen.
The KPSC later put the selection list on hold, while the Karnataka government handed the matter over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). FIRs were registered and some alleged middlemen were arrested.
The Karnataka High Court is also examining the matter, with some petitioners seeking transfer of the investigation from the CID to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The ED’s searches are aimed at tracing the alleged money trail and establishing the financial dimensions of the recruitment-related irregularities.
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