Bengaluru, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, who served as Controller of Examinations of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), was remanded to judicial custody on Sunday in connection with the alleged recruitment scam involving the appointment of veterinary officers.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the case, arrested Kumar after questioning him for two days. He was subsequently produced before the Bengaluru First Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) at the judge’s residence, where he was remanded to judicial custody.
The court directed the authorities to produce Kumar before an open court on August 31.
Kumar’s arrest has intensified the investigation into alleged irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process. Investigators are examining allegations that OMR answer sheets were manipulated and are also probing whether candidates were provided training at selected hotels and resorts as part of the alleged recruitment irregularities.
The IAS officer was questioned extensively by the CID on August 28, with the interrogation reportedly continuing until 11 p.m. Questioning resumed the following day and continued until midnight. Investigators are said to have found inconsistencies in his statements and evidence allegedly linking him to the manipulation of OMR sheets.
The probe is also expected to widen to former KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, commission officials and some members.
Investigators have reportedly obtained details of four recruitment examinations conducted by the KPSC over the past three years. These include examinations for the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Industries and Commerce Department, besides the veterinary officer recruitment examination.
The CID is examining whether similar irregularities occurred in these examinations.
The alleged veterinary officer recruitment scam has also drawn the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has conducted searches at the residences of the former KPSC chairman, commission members and officials. The CID had earlier searched the KPSC office as part of its investigation into allegations of question paper leaks, mark manipulation and other recruitment irregularities during Kumar’s tenure.
The ED also recently searched Kumar’s residence. The officer was not at home at the time, having travelled to his home state of Uttar Pradesh. ED officials subsequently opened the house using a duplicate key and conducted the search.
With Kumar now in judicial custody, the CID is expected to intensify its probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities and examine the possible involvement of other officials and individuals.
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