KPSC Halts Veterinary Officers List, Orders Probe Over Exam Malpractice Allegations

The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in Bengaluru has temporarily put on hold its final selection list for 400 veterinary officers and constituted an internal sub-committee to investigate allegations of widespread recruitment malpractices. The decision was taken following an emergency meeting on Sunday after allegations surfaced that seats were being sold for Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore each.

KPSC Secretary K Jyothi announced on Sunday that the internal inquiry sub-committee was established under the chairmanship of a senior member. The sub-committee has been directed to thoroughly verify every stage of the examination process alongside relevant documents and submit a detailed factual report to the Commission within one week.

An FIR has been registered against suspended KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, other commission officials, and 29 candidates whose names appeared on the selection list. Sahukar and his two daughters have also been booked for alleged malpractices to secure government posts during his tenure as chairman.

The KPSC had published the final selection list of 400 veterinary officers on July 17. Following the emergence of the corruption allegations, Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra alleged that there was a delay in registering the FIR. Vijayendra stated that affected candidates who were cheated in the exam had met him and that the party would back their protests. Addressing queries regarding Sahukar's appointment as KPSC chairman during the BJP tenure in 2021, Vijayendra underlined that there was no question of backing anyone found guilty.