IAS Officer Gyandendra Kumar Gangwar Arrested in KPSC Scam

A Karnataka IAS officer, Gyandendra Kumar Gangwar, has been arrested by the CID in connection with the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) scam. The officer, who was the controller of examination during the recruitment of veterinary doctors, had absconded to escape the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) probe.

He appeared before the CID on Friday and was grilled for over 11 hours before being detained. On Sunday morning, he was produced before a magistrate and taken into custody for further interrogation.

The KPSC scam involves allegations of 'cash for posting', with middlemen demanding and collecting ₹80 lakh from successful candidates. The IAS officer is accused of accommodating the process of editing the OMR sheets of successful candidates, allowing candidates who scored less than 400 marks to become toppers.

The scam came to light when an aspirant posted a video of middlemen negotiating with him to pay ₹80 lakh per posting. The KPSC Chairman, Shivashankarappa Sahukar, was suspended from his post by the Karnataka Governor and the investigation was handed over to the CID.

The ED has raided 13 premises, including Sahukar's, and grilled middlemen, successful candidates, and complainants. The CID had issued a notice to Gangwar, who initially went absconding but later appeared before them.

The Home Minister, Priyank Kharge, had initially defended Gangwar, saying he had gone to his native place in UP to attend a family emergency. However, Kharge later said he was not aware of the officer's whereabouts.

The KPSC was to recruit 400 candidates, and most of the successful candidates allegedly paid ₹80 lakh each to get the job. The CID and ED are continuing their investigation into the scam.

The arrest of Gangwar is a significant development in the case, and the investigation is expected to uncover more details about the scam. The KPSC scam has raised concerns about corruption in the recruitment process and the need for greater transparency and accountability.

The case has also highlighted the importance of a fair and merit-based recruitment process, and the need to prevent such scams from occurring in the future. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days.

In the meantime, the arrest of Gangwar has sent a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated, and those involved in such scams will be held accountable. The KPSC scam is a reminder of the need for vigilance and transparency in the recruitment process, and the importance of ensuring that such scams are prevented from occurring in the future.