KPSC veterinary officer recruitment row: Two FIRs transferred to CID in ₹80,000 job scam

A view of Udyoga Soudha, the headquarters of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) near Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru. | Photo credit: MURALI KUMAR K

Hours after opposition party leaders demanded a CBI probe, the Karnataka government has handed over two FIRs related to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of a Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) veterinary officer to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The two cases were initially registered at the Vidhana Soudha police station. The first FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint filed by the Department of Animal Husbandry, while the second was registered on the complaint of a veterinary officer aspirant, Manjunath. The transfer was ordered by the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP).

The development comes amid allegations that the post of veterinary officer was offered for up to ₹80 lakh, with investigators looking into the role of kingpins and the possible involvement of KPSC employees.

Two middlemen are interrogated

The police decided to subject the two arrested middlemen – Sikandar Chaudhary (46), a director from Vijayapura, and Arif Mohammed Mulla (45) from Jamakhandi in Bagalkot district – for further questioning. Investigators believe the duo may have played a key role in the alleged recruitment.

The two were arrested after KPSC Deputy Secretary BR Veena filed a complaint alleging that Arif had approached candidates claiming that he could provide answers during the written exam in exchange for ₹70 lakh.

During the investigation, the police reportedly found that ₹1.5 lakh was transferred from the candidate’s bank account to Sikandar’s account, leading the authorities to freeze the account. Although the accused claimed that they merely misused the KPSC name to cheat candidates, investigators suspect that they maintained connections with individuals within the Commission who may have facilitated the fraud.

Investigators are also probing whether any KPSC officials or employees helped the accused in carrying out the alleged fraud.

Forensic analysis of an audio clip

A surreptitiously recorded audio conversation between Arif and a job seeker turned out to be crucial evidence. The recording, which was allegedly obtained through a sting operation by Akhila Karnataka Rajya Vidyarthigala Sangha president Kanthakumar and one candidate, purportedly captures Arif stating that securing the veterinary officer post would cost ₹80 crore, with a deposit of ₹40 lakh.

The police have started the process of collecting Arif’s voice sample for forensic analysis at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

A total of three cases are related to the alleged KPSC recruitment scam. While investigations into the first two cases are ongoing, the third case — allegedly linked to the KPSC chairman’s daughter — is currently pending before the High Court. The police are awaiting the court’s decision before proceeding with further investigations into the case.

Published – 28 Jul 2026 17:20 IST