Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating alleged irregularities in Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitments has turned its focus to the Planning Board examination, where investigators are probing allegations that the answer script of the candidate who secured the first rank in 2023 and is now employed in the State Planning Board was allegedly manipulated.
The allegation has emerged as the most significant finding in the probe so far.
The PSC exam was held on July 13, 2023, for the post of Chief (Industry and Infrastructure), State Planning Board. According to sources, the SIT suspects that 10 questions carrying 58 marks were excluded from the evaluation process after it was found that the candidate had answered six of them incorrectly and left four unanswered.
Investigators are examining whether the questions were subsequently dropped to protect the candidate’s rank.
The candidate is reported to have links with a Left-affiliated organisation.
These allegations remain under investigation.
The SIT, headed by IG of Police Ajitha Beegum, has already registered an FIR in the case.
However, no accused have been named so far, with investigators indicating that the probe has now entered a crucial phase aimed at identifying individual culpability.
Sources said the investigation team will soon be expanded as it moves into its second stage, which will involve extensive questioning of those involved in the recruitment process.
Besides officials who handled the examination and evaluation, the SIT is likely to question members of the PSC Board as it attempts to establish whether the alleged irregularities were the result of individual misconduct or a wider conspiracy.
The SIT has so far received around 90 complaints relating to various PSC examinations, prompting investigators to widen the scope of the inquiry beyond the Planning Board recruitment.
Complaints relating to the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) and several other examinations are also under scrutiny.
The present PSC comprises its Chairman and 15 members, all appointed during the tenure of the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government.
Under constitutional provisions, each member holds office for six years or until attaining the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
The Planning Board examination, which was conducted during the second tenure of the Vijayan government (2021-26), has now emerged as the cornerstone of what could become Kerala’s biggest-ever probe into alleged PSC recruitment irregularities.
(IANS)
