Thiruvananthapuram, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress on Saturday demanded the removal of Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman M.R. Baiju and all 15 members of the Commission, as the Crime Branch intensified its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and appointments.
Senior Congress leader M.M. Hassan urged the V.D. Satheesan-led state government to recommend their removal to the President, arguing that their continuation in office was no longer legally or morally justifiable in view of the allegations under investigation.
The demand came amid a series of developments in the probe. The Crime Branch Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already questioned Chairman Baiju and three PSC members, while PSC Secretary Saju George appeared before investigators on Saturday.
The SIT also arrested R. Hari, a suspended Additional Secretary in the PSC examination wing, from a relative’s house in Kochi on Friday night. He had reportedly been absconding for several days.
Another accused, retired Deputy Secretary P. Satheesh, was arrested two days earlier and is currently in judicial custody.
In a separate development, the SIT registered another case naming Baiju, Commission members and officials in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Fisheries Extension Officers.
Investigators suspect that official powers were misused to manipulate rankings and favour ineligible candidates, depriving deserving applicants of opportunities and undermining confidence in the constitutional recruitment body.
The investigation has also brought alleged irregularities in recruitment to the State Planning Board under scrutiny, with officials accused of manipulating the evaluation process.
The Kerala High Court had recently expressed strong displeasure over the pace of the investigation and questioned why key accused had not been arrested or interrogated.
Hassan described the questioning of a PSC Chairman and Commission members by the Crime Branch as unprecedented in Kerala. He said the government should immediately initiate constitutional procedures for their removal.
He also called for examining whether the Chairman and members could be kept away from their official duties until the investigation was completed.
The issue had earlier reached the President after outgoing Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar wrote seeking the removal of the entire 16-member PSC board, comprising the Chairman and 15 members.
Accusing the Commission of betraying unemployed youth and eroding public confidence in the recruitment system, Hassan said the government should not allow those facing serious allegations to continue discharging their responsibilities while the investigation was underway.
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