The curious case of Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar: Why Karnataka IAS officer's disappearance sparked row

The brief disappearance of a serving IAS officer triggered speculation in Karnataka, particularly because of his previous association with the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), which is currently under scrutiny over alleged recruitment irregularities.

Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a 2016-batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer and Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the Department of Industries and Commerce, had become unreachable on August 20, prompting concern among officials and colleagues.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge confirmed on Saturday that the government had received information about the officer being unreachable. He said no formal missing-person complaint had been filed by Gangwar’s family.

The uncertainty was cleared later in the day after Gangwar contacted the government. He reportedly informed officials that he had travelled urgently to his hometown because of a family emergency and had sought leave for the purpose.

Gangwar was last traced to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. He had reportedly booked a flight to Delhi on August 20. His inability to be reached on his official phone during the period had led to speculation about his whereabouts.

The episode drew particular attention because Gangwar had earlier served as the Controller of Examinations at the KPSC, which is facing scrutiny over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers, including allegations of paper leaks, tampering with OMR answer sheets, and manipulation of the selection process.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 18 conducted searches at 21 locations across Karnataka and Ahmedabad as part of a money-laundering investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities. The searches included the KPSC office, the residence of KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, another KPSC member, alleged middlemen, the office of a testing agency, and the residences of some selected candidates.

Gangwar’s previous association with the commission consequently brought additional attention to his absence. However, he is not accused of any wrongdoing in the KPSC case, and there is no official indication that his absence was connected to the investigation.

The KPSC controversy has also placed its chairman, Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, under intense scrutiny.

Sahukar was suspended by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in July following allegations that he had abused his position and facilitated the alleged illegal selection of his two daughters as Industrial Extension Officers. One allegation concerned his daughter submitting an income certificate declaring the family’s annual income as ₹40,000, despite Sahukar being a senior constitutional functionary drawing a substantially higher salary.

The Karnataka High Court, however, quashed the Governor’s suspension order on August 18, holding that the Governor could not independently suspend the KPSC chairman without the mandatory aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. The court directed that Sahukar be reinstated within seven days.

On August 21, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor that Sahukar be suspended again and that fresh proceedings be initiated against him, following the procedure outlined by the High Court.

Against this backdrop, Gangwar’s brief absence inevitably attracted attention because of his former role at the KPSC.

But with the officer now in touch with the government and having explained that he had travelled due to a family emergency, the immediate mystery over his whereabouts has been resolved.