Bengaluru: Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) racket, found that suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar had facilitated the leak of veterinary officers’ recruitment examination question paper to alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale, a day before the scheduled examination.According to ED, Gangwar, then controller of examinations at KPSC, who was entrusted with the custody and supervision of confidential examination material, misused his official position for illegal gratification.ED gathered material indicating that Kannale, in connivance with his associates, facilitated the illegal selection of candidates by providing them with the leaked question paper containing the correct answers.Kannale, who obtained access to the leaked paper through his close association with Gangwar, allegedly identified and approached multiple candidates, assuring them of their selection for the jobs.Around Rs 80 lakh was initially demanded from each candidate, which was later negotiated and settled for around Rs 30-40 lakh per candidate. Portions of the agreed amounts were collected as an advance through cash and banking channels, the probe found.To secure the remaining amounts, some candidates were made to furnish signed blank cheques and promissory notes. These documents were subsequently recovered and seized during searches at multiple locations.The investigation also revealed that the bank account of Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha, Bidar, was used to receive certain amounts connected with the illegal gratification.Selected candidates were taken to a resort on the outskirts, where they were provided with the leaked question paper. The candidates were made to memorise the answers under the supervision of Kannale and his associates.On the day of the examination, the candidates were transported to their examination centres in vehicles allegedly arranged by Kannale.The proceeds of the crime were subsequently layered and utilised through various modes, including bank transfers, the purchase of gold jewellery, cash payments for air travel and other cash transactions, the investigation found.
