Karnataka CID arrests IAS officer in recruitment scam case

Bengaluru: The criminal investigation department (CID) on Sunday arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in connection with the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam.

Gangwar is a 2016 batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer hailing from Uttar Pradesh.

The officer appeared before the CID on Friday in connection with a case the CID is investigating related to the recent recruitment of 400 veterinary officers. The case arises from a complaint filed at the Vidhana Soudha police station by victims of the scam, who alleged large scale malpractice in the exam including tampering of OMR sheets to help several candidates in return for bribes.


The enforcement directorate (ED) and CID teams are probing the role of several people including Shivashankarappa Sahukar, the KPSC chairman under suspension and Gangwar. The IAS officer, who currents heads the MSME directorate, was the controller of the said examination when the exam malpractice took place.

The officer, who left Bengaluru as details of the scandals surfaced, appeared before the CID but was evasive to most of the questions, according to sources. The CID produced him before a magistrate on Sunday, who remanded in judicial custody. The CID team, which is said to be keen to subject him to more questioning, will request his remand before the magistrate on Monday.

The ED teams conducted search operations at both Sahukar’s and Gangwar’s residences in connection with the case. The ED has also issued notices to Gangwar.

Sahukar appeared before the CID on Thursday in response to a notice.