KPSC paper leak: ED alleges IAS officer supplied Veterinary Officer exam paper for bribes

Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that 2016-batch IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who was serving as Controller of Examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), leaked the Veterinary Officers Recruitment Examination question paper along with answer keys to middleman Basavaraj Kannale a day before the exam in exchange for money.

The ED's Bengaluru Zonal Office is investigating irregularities in the recruitment examination conducted by KPSC for 400 Veterinary Officer posts. The probe stems from multiple FIRs registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru.

According to the agency, Kannale, along with his associates, facilitated the illegal selection of candidates by providing them with the leaked question paper and correct answers in return for bribes. Investigators found that Kannale allegedly gained access to the confidential paper through his close association with Gangwar, who was responsible for the custody and supervision of examination materials.


The ED said Kannale approached several candidates, promising to secure their selection in the examination. The agency alleged that an initial demand of around ₹80 lakh per candidate was later negotiated to between ₹30 lakh and ₹40 lakh. Parts of the agreed amounts were collected in cash and through bank transactions, while some candidates were asked to provide signed blank cheques and promissory notes as security for the balance payments.

Investigators also found that the account of Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha, Bidar, was allegedly used to receive some of the proceeds linked to the scam.

The probe further revealed that selected candidates were housed at a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where they were allegedly given the leaked question paper and made to memorise the answers under the supervision of Kannale and his associates. On the day of the examination, the candidates were reportedly transported to their respective centres in vehicles arranged by the group.

The ED arrested Kannale on September 17 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He was produced before a special PMLA court on September 29, which granted the agency 14 days' custody for further investigation.

The agency also arrested Gangwar on September 18, alleging that he misused his official position to facilitate the leakage of the question paper a day before the examination in return for illegal gratification. A special PMLA court subsequently granted the ED 14 days' custody of the former KPSC official.

Analysis of material seized during searches conducted between August 18 and August 24 revealed that the alleged proceeds of crime were routed through multiple channels, including bank transfers, gold purchases, air travel expenses and cash transactions, in an attempt to conceal their origin, the ED said.