KPSC Scam: Court Remands IAS Officer Gyanendra Gangwar, Basavaraj Kannale to CID Custody

A Bengaluru court on Monday granted the Criminal Investigation Department 10 days of custody of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and key suspect Basavaraj Kannale in connection with alleged irregularities at the Karnataka Public Service Commission. Investigators had previously searched Kannale's premises in the city's Sanjay Nagar neighbourhood as part of the ongoing probe.

According to sources, the CID investigation identifies Gangwar and Kannale as the central suspects in the case. Kannale, a Tumkur University syndicate member who operates several businesses including tours and travels and is linked with the state BJP, is suspected to have orchestrated the leaks and tampering of OMR sheets through Gangwar. Sources indicated that Kannale was in constant contact with the IAS officer.

The KPSC, which oversees competitive examinations for government posts in Karnataka, came under scrutiny over irregularities in the final selection process for the Veterinary Officers' Recruitment Exam.

Investigators are also looking into claims that middlemen approached aspirants and collected Rs 40 lakh in advance payments to secure job postings. These details were outlined in a First Information Report registered at the Vidhana Soudha police station in July, which named 29 candidates.

Sources said that forensic analysis and carbon dating are expected to be carried out to determine whether OMR answer sheets were altered and whether CCTV footage was destroyed. The CID is also examining the bank accounts of the suspects and candidates to trace the money trail involved in the alleged transactions.

Following the developments, JD(S) leaders and party workers were detained by police on Tuesday after attempting to storm the KPCC building to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the KPSC irregularities. Police took the protesters into preventive custody and released them later.