1 hr ago
Karnataka probe uncovers villa meetings in veterinary recruitment scam
Investigators are examining whether people paid money to get government veterinary jobs in Karnataka.
The jobs were for veterinary doctors.
A middleman allegedly took 20 applicants to four villas near Bengaluru before the test.
Investigators say some applicants received the exam questions and answers early.
They also suspect an exam official gave the paper to the middleman.
Eleven candidates have been identified as allegedly transferring money for the questions.
Several bank accounts and cash have been seized or frozen.
The High Court has ordered a special team to investigate the case.
A middleman allegedly housed 20 veterinary-doctor aspirants in four villas near Bengaluru before the January 9 entrance exam.
Investigators allege leaked question papers and answers were provided to candidates seeking 400 government veterinary posts.
The Criminal Investigation Department has identified 11 candidates who allegedly transferred Rs 80 lakh for access to questions.
Investigators allege exam controller Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar gave the paper to Basavaraj Kannale on a pen drive.
The Karnataka High Court has directed formation of a Special Investigation Team, while the state government and Enforcement Directorate continue investigations.
- Who
- The alleged participants include middleman Basavaraj Kannale, KPSC exam controller Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, candidates, and other people under investigation.
- What
- Investigators are examining alleged question-paper leaks, bribery, and irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary doctors.
- Where
- The alleged activities involved four villas in Devanahalli near Bengaluru and the Karnataka Public Service Commission examination system.
- When
- The villas were booked on January 8, and the entrance exam was held on January 9; the investigations remain ongoing.
- Why
- Investigators allege that candidates paid money to obtain leaked questions and secure government veterinary appointments.
Investigators’ Allegations
Government’s Position
Who should lead the investigation
Investigators’ Allegations
The Karnataka High Court has directed that the CID investigation be handed to a Special Investigation Team, while the CID and Enforcement Directorate continue examining the alleged recruitment fraud.
Government’s Position
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the state government should have retained the freedom to appoint investigators, while welcoming the High Court’s direction to form an SIT.
Assessment of the investigation
Investigators’ Allegations
The CID and ED say their investigations have identified more candidates, alleged money transfers, and links involving an exam official and other individuals.
Government’s Position
Shivakumar said the state police were conducting the investigation very well and questioned why the court did not first review that investigation.
Key facts
- Posts advertised
- 400 veterinary-doctor posts
- Candidates examined
- About 1,400 aspirants appeared
- Candidates selected
- 329 candidates were selected
- Villa accommodation
- 20 people were allegedly accommodated in four villas
- Identified transfers
- Eleven candidates allegedly transferred Rs 80 lakh
- Frozen funds
- Rs 64 lakh was frozen in an Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Bank account and Rs 5.20 lakh in a Kotak Mahindra Bank account
- Seized cash
- Rs 5.76 lakh in cash was seized
Quotes
D K Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister
“It is right that the court has directed the SIT to investigate. However, the state government should have been given the freedom to appoint investigators. We have received calls from Delhi and other states regarding this. I will seek the opinion of legal experts on this.”
indianexpress.com
“I welcome the High Court’s direction to form an SIT. ED is also investigating. However, our police department is also conducting the investigation very well. If the court needed to, it could have looked into the investigation of our police department.”
indianexpress.com
An investigation source
A source familiar with the CID and ED investigations
“There were more candidates involved other than those already identified. The new batch of candidates are those who came into direct contact with Kannale for recruitment without the other middlemen. The process of identifying these candidates is currently underway.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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