New Delhi/Bengaluru, Sep 30 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday alleged that former Karnataka PSC Controller of Exams and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar “facilitated” the leakage of the veterinary officers’ recruitment examination question paper to an alleged middleman a day before the test in exchange for illegal gratification.
The ED also said its probe revealed that Rs 30-40 lakh was taken from candidates of the exam for access to the leaked paper.
Gangwar, a 2016-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was arrested by the central agency on September 18 while he was in the custody of the Karnataka CID investigating the same case. He is currently in ED custody.
The officer or his legal team could not be contacted for a comment on the ED allegations made against him.
The ED’s case, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from multiple FIRs registered by the state police to probe alleged irregularities in the exam conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to hire 400 veterinary officers.
Basavaraj Kannale, an alleged middleman, was also arrested by the ED on September 17 while he was in judicial custody as part of the CID case.
The ED said in a statement that Gangwar was entrusted with ensuring the transparent and fair conduct of KPSC recruitment examinations and was responsible for finalising and supervising the printing of question papers and maintaining custody of confidential examination material.
“Investigation revealed that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar misused his official position and facilitated the leakage of the veterinary officers’ recruitment examination question paper containing the correct answers to Basavaraj Kannale, one day prior to the scheduled examination, in consideration of illegal gratification,” it said.
The agency claimed that some candidates were taken to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where they received the “leaked” question paper containing the correct answers.
The candidates were made to memorise the answers under the supervision of Kannale and his associates, it added.
These candidates were transported to their examination centres in vehicles “arranged by” Kannale and/or his associates, the agency claimed.
According to the agency, the accused demanded Rs 80 lakh each from such candidates and the amount was subsequently settled at Rs 30-40 lakh after negotiation.
Some amount was received as an “advance” in cash and through banking channels while the rest was taken in the form of blank signed cheques and promissory notes. These cheques and notes were seized by the ED during searches conducted in the case.
The agency said the funds taken from the candidates were also used to purchase gold jewellery, pay for air travel in cash, and for other cash transactions. PTI NES KVK
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