Kerala PSC to cooperate with Crime Branch SIT probing recruitment irregularities
Synopsis
Kerala's PSC has agreed to hand documents to a Crime Branch SIT probing alleged recruitment fraud — a probe that has already drawn over a dozen complaints covering the KAS exam, Planning Board appointment, and DSP recruitment. With all 16 PSC members appointed under the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government and five seats still vacant, the investigation is as much about institutional integrity as individual wrongdoing.
Key Takeaways
Kerala PSC has agreed to hand over all sought documents to the Crime Branch SIT probing alleged recruitment irregularities.
The SIT received more than a dozen complaints on its first day, covering exams including the KAS , DSP Special Recruitment , and Economics and Statistics Research Officer roles.
The team has been expanded to eight members , led by IG Ajitha Begum under ADGP H.
A preliminary report is due with the State police chief by 25 July .
All 16 PSC members were appointed under former CM Pinarayi Vijayan ; five vacancies remain unfilled under the current government.
The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has agreed to fully cooperate with the Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in state recruitment processes, officials confirmed on 13 July. The PSC stated that all documents sought by the investigating agency would be handed over in accordance with the law.
How the SIT Is Approaching the Probe
The SIT, constituted by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, has adopted a calibrated approach that accounts for the PSC's constitutional status and statutory safeguards. Rather than immediately registering criminal cases, investigators have begun by verifying complaints, recording statements, examining recruitment records, and questioning officials connected to selection processes — before deciding on further legal action.
Key Recruitments Under Scrutiny
The investigation gathered momentum on its opening day, with the SIT receiving more than a dozen complaints alleging irregularities across several major recruitment drives. These include the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) examination, the appointment of the Planning Board Chief, the Deputy Superintendent of Police Special Recruitment examination, the Economics and Statistics Research Officer examination, and recruitment to the post of Assistant Professor in Hotel Management.
SIT Expanded, Report Due by July 25
The government has since expanded the SIT to eight members, headed by Inspector General Ajitha Begum under the overall supervision of Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh. A preliminary report is expected to be submitted to the State police chief by 25 July.
PSC's Internal Safeguards in Question
The probe has also turned the spotlight on the PSC's own vigilance mechanism, headed by a Superintendent of Police, amid questions over whether its internal safeguards were adequate to detect and prevent the alleged irregularities. Notably, all 16 members of the Kerala PSC — including its chairman — were appointed during the previous government of Pinarayi Vijayan. Five vacancies currently remain unfilled, with the Satheesan-led government yet to make fresh appointments. Successive governments in Kerala have long faced criticism over the practice of appointing political loyalists to PSC vacancies, a pattern that critics argue undermines the body's independence.
The coming weeks will be critical: if the SIT's preliminary findings point to systemic failures, formal criminal cases could follow — potentially implicating officials at multiple levels of the recruitment apparatus.
Point of View
But also that it wants to build an airtight case before escalating. The more telling detail is political: every PSC member was appointed under the previous Vijayan administration, giving the Satheesan government a structural incentive to pursue the investigation aggressively. The five unfilled vacancies are a lever the current government has not yet used — and how it fills them will say as much about intent as the probe itself. If the SIT's report confirms systemic failures rather than isolated misconduct, the credibility of an entire recruitment cycle affecting thousands of candidates comes into question.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Kerala PSC being investigated by the Crime Branch SIT?
The Crime Branch SIT is probing alleged irregularities in several major recruitment processes conducted by the Kerala PSC, including the KAS exam, Planning Board Chief appointment, and DSP Special Recruitment examination. The SIT was constituted by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
Which recruitments are under the SIT's scanner?
The SIT is examining alleged irregularities in the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) exam, the appointment of the Planning Board Chief, the Deputy Superintendent of Police Special Recruitment exam, the Economics and Statistics Research Officer exam, and Assistant Professor recruitment in Hotel Management.
When is the SIT's preliminary report expected?
The SIT is expected to submit a preliminary report to the State police chief by 25 July. Based on its findings, investigators will then decide whether to register formal criminal cases.
Who is leading the SIT probe into Kerala PSC?
The SIT is headed by Inspector General Ajitha Begum, under the overall supervision of Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh. It has been expanded to eight members.
Who appointed the current Kerala PSC members?
All 16 members of the Kerala PSC, including its chairman, were appointed during the tenure of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Five vacancies currently remain unfilled under the Satheesan government.
