BENGALURU, September 19: The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is facing renewed scrutiny over alleged recruitment irregularities involving a government job secured by the suspended chairman’s daughter, a veterinary officer examination paper leak and claims of answer-sheet manipulation. Fresh reporting published on Saturday has highlighted internal warnings about irregularities dating back several years, while job aspirants have also demanded an overhaul of the state recruitment body.
Suspended KPSC Chairman at Centre of Probe
Former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar was suspended on August 25 following allegations connected to two major recruitment cases.
One concerns the selection of his daughter, Suma Sahukar, as an Industrial Extension Officer in Karnataka’s Industries and Commerce Department. Investigators allege that an income certificate used in the application understated her father’s income to qualify under an OBC reservation category.
The matter remains under investigation, and the allegations have not resulted in a final judicial finding of guilt.
Veterinary Recruitment Paper Leak Under Investigation
A second case concerns recruitment for 400 veterinary officer posts.
Investigators allege that the examination paper was made available in advance to a group of candidates. The CID has said that 29 candidates, including one person allegedly related to Sahukar, recorded unusually high scores after allegedly receiving the question paper before the examination.
The Karnataka High Court earlier rejected Sahukar’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with the veterinary recruitment investigation after prosecutors presented material alleging frequent communication between Sahukar, his son and a middleman accused of facilitating the paper leak.
CID Traces Alleged Money Trail
The Criminal Investigation Department has also been examining financial transactions linked to the recruitment case.
According to submissions cited in court, 11 aspirants allegedly transferred around ₹70 lakh to middleman Basavaraj Kannale, and investigators say part of the money was later used to purchase jewellery worth approximately ₹52 lakh for an associate of former KPSC Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar. These are allegations contained in the ongoing CID investigation and remain subject to judicial scrutiny.
Gangwar has also been accused by investigators of providing the veterinary recruitment paper to the alleged middleman before the examination.
Internal Warnings Reportedly Raised Since 2019
A fresh Indian Express investigation published on September 19 reported that senior officials inside KPSC had raised concerns about alleged irregularities at least four times between 2019 and 2026.
Sahukar was appointed as a KPSC member in 2019 during the BJP government led by B. S. Yediyurappa and became chairman in 2021. The report said questions were raised about his initial classification as an “official” member because he did not have the required decade of government service; he was subsequently classified as a non-official member.
The report also described disputes between Sahukar and successive KPSC secretaries who raised concerns over recruitment procedures. Neither Sahukar nor the offices of the political leaders contacted by the newspaper provided substantive responses to all of its questions.
Answer-Sheet Tampering Case Also Under Lens
Another controversy involves recruitment of 24 Assistant Executive Engineers, where a complaint alleged tampering of answer sheets.
An internal KPSC inquiry found 10 candidates guilty of tampering in February 2025, after which the candidates approached the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal and the High Court.
The High Court considered whether an outside agency should investigate the matter, but the case was later returned to the tribunal without a separate CBI or SIT probe being ordered.
Job Aspirants Demand Complete KPSC Overhaul
The controversy has also triggered protests from government-job aspirants.
Members of the Job Aspirants’ Struggle Committee and All-India Democratic Youth Organisation demonstrated at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park, demanding an independent investigation and structural reforms in KPSC.
The groups cited repeated allegations involving examination leaks, recruitment delays, OMR-sheet manipulation and other irregularities, and called for implementation of recommendations previously proposed for reforming the commission.
Political Accountability Also Under Scrutiny
The fresh reports have raised questions over how concerns about KPSC’s functioning were handled under successive Karnataka governments.
The Indian Express reported that officials flagged alleged irregularities during periods governed by both the BJP and Congress, while some internal complaints did not lead to immediate action against the chairman.
How much responsibility rests with individual officials or political administrations remains contested, and investigations into the specific recruitment allegations are continuing.
The latest developments have renewed calls for greater transparency, independent oversight and stronger safeguards in Karnataka’s government recruitment system.
source – The Indian Express / The New Indian Express / CID Proceedings
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