BENGALURU: The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Controller of Exams and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar “facilitated” the leak of the veterinary officers’ recruitment examination question paper to an alleged middleman a day before the test in return for illegal gratification.The agency has also claimed that candidates were charged Rs 30-40 lakh each for access to the leaked paper and its correct answers.Gangwar, a 2016-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was arrested by the ED on September 18 while he was in the custody of the Karnataka CID, which is probing the same case. He is currently in ED custody.The officer or his legal team could not be contacted for a comment on the ED’s allegations.
ED alleges KPSC officer helped leak exam paper
The ED’s case, registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from multiple FIRs filed by state police over alleged irregularities in the KPSC examination held to recruit 400 veterinary officers.Gangwar, according to the ED, was responsible for ensuring the transparent and fair conduct of KPSC recruitment exams. His duties included finalising and supervising the printing of question papers and maintaining custody of confidential examination material.“Investigation revealed that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar misused his official position and facilitated the leakage of the veterinary officers’ recruitment examination question paper containing the correct answers to Basavaraj Kannale, one day prior to the scheduled examination, in consideration of illegal gratification,” it said.Basavaraj Kannale, described by the agency as an alleged middleman, was arrested by the ED on September 17 while he was in judicial custody in the CID case.
Candidates allegedly taken to resort to memorise answers
The agency claimed that some candidates were taken to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where they were provided the “leaked” question paper containing the correct answers.The candidates were allegedly made to memorise the answers under the supervision of Kannale and his associates, the ED said.The agency further claimed that the candidates were transported to their examination centres in vehicles “arranged by” Kannale and/or his associates.
Rs 80 lakh demand allegedly settled at Rs 30-40 lakh
According to the ED, the accused initially demanded Rs 80 lakh from each candidate for access to the leaked paper. The amount was subsequently negotiated down to Rs 30-40 lakh, the agency claimed.Some of the money was allegedly received as an “advance” in cash and through banking channels, while the remaining amount was taken in the form of blank signed cheques and promissory notes.The ED said these cheques and promissory notes were seized during searches conducted as part of the probe.
ED probes use of alleged proceeds
The agency also said the funds collected from candidates were used to purchase gold jewellery, pay for air travel in cash and for other cash transactions.The investigation is continuing into the alleged leak, the flow of funds and the wider network involved in the recruitment examination irregularities.(With PTI inputs)
