KPSC Recruitment: ₹20-40 bribe for leaked answer keys

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and KPSC member BV Geetha in connection with the alleged rigging of the recruitment examination for 400 posts of veterinary officer, including leakage of answer keys of specific candidates and misuse of confidential merit list data to collect bribes.

The duo was arrested on October 6 after the ED searched their premises under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). They were produced before the Special Court for PMLA Cases (CCH-4) on October 7, which granted 14-day remand to the ED for both the accused.

According to the ED, its investigation revealed an organized mechanism through which KPSC officials and members allegedly generated proceeds of crime by rigging recruitment examinations.

The alleged modus operandi included leaking question papers, leaking answer keys of specific candidates and misusing the confidential 1:3 merit list to demand money from candidates.

The ED said that some candidates were allegedly given the correct answer keys a day before the Veterinary Officers exam on January 8, 2026, in return for bribes ranging from ₹20 to ₹40 lakh.

One of those arrested is IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who allegedly gained access to the untidy question papers and answer keys and gave the correct answers to KPSC member BV Geetha for the first 80 questions. | Photo credit: File photo

Investigators say Geetha got the leaked answer keys from Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS, the then Controller of Examinations (CoE), who was responsible for the confidential investigation material. Gangwar allegedly accessed the unordered question papers and answer keys and provided Geeth with the correct answers to the first 80 questions.

The ED alleged that Geetha collected ₹20 million in cash as an advance from one candidate for an agreed bribe of ₹40 million, while Sahukar allegedly collected ₹10 million as an advance against an agreed bribe of ₹20,000 from another candidate.

So far, six candidates who scored highly in the final selection list are on the suspect list, with the ED saying investigations are underway to identify all the beneficiaries.

10 candidates admitted to the resort before the exam

Earlier, the ED seized signed blank checks worth ₹80,000 and signed blank bills from one successful candidate.

Investigators found that 10 successful candidates were allegedly taken to a resort in suburban Bengaluru a day before the exam, where they were given a question paper containing the correct answer options for 80 questions and allegedly made to memorize them.

The ED claimed that the marked question paper was leaked to Gangwar through his close associate Basavaraj Kannale. Kannale allegedly collected ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 from each candidate in exchange for facilitating their final selection.

Kannale was arrested by ED on September 17 followed by Gangwar on September 18. They were placed in the ED for 14 days of detention. Gangwar was subsequently sent to judicial custody.

Confidential merit list 1:3 allegedly misused

The investigation uncovered an alleged second method of extorting money from candidates.

According to ED, KPSC does not publish individual marks while publishing merit list 1:3. However, some KPSC members and officials reportedly had access to confidential posts of merit from the Council of Europe office and assessed which candidates were likely to make the final selection.

The accused allegedly used this confidential information to approach candidates and secure their selection in return for bribes ranging from ₹ 10 to ₹ 50 lakh depending on the post.

The ED said the misuse of confidential information on merits was part of the mechanism for generating and disposing of the proceeds of crime.

Published – 8 Oct 2026 14:13 IST