KPSC recruitment scam: ED raids Bengaluru office, suspended chairman Sahukar’s home
ED conducted the raids in connection with a probe into the veterinary officers recruitment scam, which includes allegations of money laundering, bribery and exam irregularities
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a significant money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities within the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment of veterinary officers. Raids are currently underway at 21 locations across Karnataka and Gujarat, encompassing the KPSC's main office, its suspended chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, other officials, alleged middlemen, and a company responsible for exam evaluation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a significant money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities within the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment of veterinary officers. Raids are currently underway at 21 locations across Karnataka and Gujarat, encompassing the KPSC's main office, its suspended chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, other officials, alleged middlemen, and a company responsible for exam evaluation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a significant money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities within the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment of veterinary officers. Raids are currently underway at 21 locations across Karnataka and Gujarat, encompassing the KPSC's main office, its suspended chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, other officials, alleged middlemen, and a company responsible for exam evaluation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids today targeting the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), its suspended chairman, Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, and several others. The raids are part of a money laundering probe into an alleged scam in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
According to officials, searches are underway at 21 locations across Karnataka and in Gujarat.
The move came after the federal investigative agency registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to examine the alleged irregularities.
The locations under scrutiny include the KPSC’s main office in Bengaluru, the homes of suspended chairman Sahukar and KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, and the premises of several alleged middlemen. The searches also extend to a company called Edutest Solutions, which handled the digital evaluation of exam papers, and the homes of candidates selected for the posts. These 21 sites are spread across cities such as Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, and Belgaum, as well as in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
ED officials said that their investigation is based on four FIRs filed at Bengaluru's Vidhan Soudha police station, which alleged malpractice in the final selection of veterinary officers.
The core allegation is that middlemen contacted candidates, including the original complainant, demanding bribes "ranging from Rs 70 to Rs 80 lakh (per candidate) for selection".
The complainant in the original police case is said to have provided audio recordings of these middlemen as evidence.
The ED probe is also looking into wider claims of a paper leak, tampering with OMR answer sheets, and the improper facilitation of selections for relatives of KPSC officials.
The raids follow the suspension of Sahukar in July by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. His suspension was related to separate charges of allegedly facilitating the illegal selection of his two daughters for posts as Industrial Extension Officers.