Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted search operations at 21 locations across Karnataka and Ahmedabad, in connection with alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment of Veterinary Officers.
The Bengaluru Zonal Office of the ED carried out the searches under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The premises searched include the KPSC office, the residence of suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, alleged middlemen, candidates selected for the Veterinary Officer posts and the office premises of Edutest Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which was responsible for the digital evaluation of examination papers.
According to ED officials, the 21 locations are spread across Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi and Belagavi in Karnataka, besides Ahmedabad.
The searches are linked to multiple FIRs registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru alleging serious irregularities in the final selection process for Veterinary Officers.
The complainant in the case, had alleged that certain middlemen approached candidates, including him and demanded bribes ranging from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh per candidate in exchange for ensuring their selection.
The complainant is also understood to have submitted audio recordings of the alleged middlemen to the law enforcement authorities in support of the allegations.
The complaints further include allegations of question paper leakage, tampering with OMR answer sheets and facilitating the selection of relatives of KPSC officials.
The ED’s search and seizure action is part of its investigation into the alleged financial and recruitment-related irregularities in the KPSC Veterinary Officers recruitment process.
Notably, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) faced a massive cash-for-jobs controversy following the release of the final selection list for 400 Veterinary Officer posts on July 17, 2026.
Allegations surfaced that seats were being sold for Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore through middlemen, prompting protests, criminal investigations, and the suspension of the KPSC chairman.
Following an exam on January 8, 2026, for 400 veterinary officer posts, results were published on July 17, 2026, triggering immediate controversy.
Candidates reported widespread bribery, nepotism, and OMR tampering, with audio clips revealing demands of up to Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore per seat.
The KPSC subsequently put the list on hold, while Karnataka government tasked the CID with investigating, leading to the registration of FIRs against key figures and arrests of middlemen.
The Karnataka High Court is reviewing the matter, with demands from some petitioners to shift the investigation from the CID to the CBI.
(IANS)
