Bengaluru, 8 September

The ED stated on Thursday that the prime accused in the KPSC recruitment scam, Shivashankarappa Sahukar, the suspended KPSC chairman, BV Geetha, KPSC member and then Controller of Examination (CoE) Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, had exploited the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s 1:3 eligibility and merit lists. 

The KPSC normally published the 1:3 merit list on its official website – shortlisting three candidates for one vacant position. Candidates are to take vivas or personality tests for the position. 

In a statement, the ED said that raids on one of the KPSC officials revealed that the “KPSC members and officials were exploiting the confidential 1:3 Merit list to induce candidates to pay bribes by assuring them of confirmed selection in KPSC recruitment examinations”.

Normally, KPSC does not disclose individual candidates’ marks, the ED stated, but the ED believes that the KPSC members and officials accessed the aspirants’ confidential data from the CoE to analyse the likelihood of them being selected and misused this information “to approach candidates and assure them of successful selection in exchange” for bribes ranging between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. 

Further, the ED believes that Gangwar used his position to provide the correct answer keys (for the first 80 questions) to Geetha, who distributed them to a candidate. She had collected Rs. 20 lakh in cash as an advance from one such candidate, out of an agreed Rs 40 lakh. Sahakur too has collected at least Rs 10 lakh from a candidate. 

The ED has identified six candidates who paid bribes. 

Sahukar, Gangwar and Geeta have all been apprehended by the ED. 

The case pertains to the alleged illegal selection of dozens of students during the Veterinary Officers Recruitment Examination.