JD(S) dares CM Shivakumar to hand KPSC scam to CBI
Synopsis
JD(S) has drawn a line in the sand — daring Karnataka CM Shivakumar to hand the KPSC scam to the CBI or stand accused of a cover-up. With at least 13 recruitment drives allegedly compromised, key officials arrested, and bribe demands reportedly reaching ₹80 lakh per seat, the scandal is far larger than the original Veterinary Officer row that triggered it.
Key Takeaways
JD(S) on 21 October 2026 challenged Karnataka CM D.K.
Shivakumar to transfer the KPSC corruption case to the CBI .
The party alleged the state government secured a Supreme Court stay to halt the SIT probe and prevent exposure of those in power.
The scam reportedly involves bribe demands of ₹30–80 lakh per candidate and leaked papers shared at Bengaluru resorts before exams.
The ED suspects at least 13 recruitment drives between 2024 and 2026 were compromised.
Former KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar , member B.V.
Geetha , former Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar , and middleman Basavaraj Kannale have all been arrested.
Kumaraswamy has championed the CBI demand, framing it as a fight for young job aspirants.
The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, directly challenged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to transfer the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) irregularities case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), accusing the state government of attempting to shield those responsible and divert public attention from the widening scandal.
The CBI Challenge
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the JD(S) posed a pointed question directly at the Chief Minister: 'Chief Minister, do you have the courage to hand over the KPSC irregularities case to the CBI?' The party invoked the Kannada proverb 'Kallana manassu hulluhullage' — implying that a guilty person is always apprehensive — to press its charge against Shivakumar.
The party also accused the Chief Minister of attempting to deflect scrutiny by framing the Opposition's criticism as a targeted campaign against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra. The JD(S) described this framing as an act of political desperation and alleged it was designed to fracture the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
What the JD(S) Alleges About the SIT Probe
The party alleged that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted following a High Court direction to probe large-scale corruption and irregular appointments in the KPSC. It further claimed that the state government subsequently approached the Supreme Court and obtained a stay order, reportedly to prevent investigation findings from implicating the Chief Minister and his ministers.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, who has been vocal on the issue, was defended by the JD(S) as fighting for the future of young job aspirants — not, as the Congress had alleged, pursuing divisive politics.
The Scale of the KPSC Scam
The controversy centres on what investigators describe as a systematic cash-for-jobs and paper-leak operation within the KPSC. The scandal first surfaced during a recruitment drive for 400 Veterinary Officer posts, when aspirants raised alarms over 29 candidates posting unusually high marks — including a relative of the then-KPSC chairman who had previously failed degree-level examinations.
Subsequent investigation revealed that candidates reportedly paid bribes ranging between ₹30 lakh and ₹50 lakh, with initial demands allegedly as high as ₹80 lakh. A day before the examination, candidates were allegedly taken to high-end resorts and villas in Bengaluru, where they were given leaked question papers and answer keys to memorise.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the SIT found that the manipulation extended well beyond a single exam. Officials allegedly withheld provisional merit shortlist data from candidates and used that confidential information as leverage — inducing fear to extract bribes and, in some cases, allegedly tampering with OMR answer sheets. According to the ED, at least 13 recruitment drives conducted between 2024 and 2026 may have been compromised.
Key Arrests and Those Behind Bars
Former KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and member B.V. Geetha have been arrested for allegedly facilitating the extortion syndicate. Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, the former Controller of Examinations, who allegedly masterminded the paper leaks by photographing confidential examination material, is also currently in judicial custody.
Basavaraj Kannale, identified as a key middleman and a BJP leader, has also been arrested and jailed. He allegedly collected cash advances, layered the funds through third-party bank accounts, and channelled the proceeds into gold and real estate.
Political and Legal Road Ahead
The KPSC scam has become one of the most politically charged issues in Karnataka, with the ruling Indian National Congress (Congress) government facing sustained pressure from both the JD(S) and the BJP. The confrontation over whether the probe should remain with the SIT or be escalated to the CBI is likely to dominate the state's political discourse in the weeks ahead. All eyes are now on whether the Shivakumar administration will respond to the CBI demand or continue to defend the SIT process.
Point of View
But the underlying scandal is what demands scrutiny. With 13 recruitment drives allegedly tainted and bribe demands running to ₹80 lakh a seat, the KPSC scam represents a systemic failure of an institution that lakhs of poor aspirants depend on. The Congress government's reported move to seek a Supreme Court stay on the SIT probe — if borne out — would be a serious accountability deficit, regardless of which party benefits politically from the narrative. Karnataka's recurring recruitment scandals point to a structural problem: regulatory capture of examining bodies that no single CBI handover will automatically fix.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KPSC scam and why is it in the news?
The Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) scam involves alleged cash-for-jobs rackets, paper leaks, and OMR sheet tampering across at least 13 recruitment drives conducted between 2024 and 2026. It came to light after unusually high scores in the Veterinary Officer recruitment drive triggered complaints from aspirants. The JD(S) has now demanded that the case be transferred to the CBI, escalating the political battle with the ruling Congress government.
Why is JD(S) demanding a CBI probe into the KPSC case?
The JD(S) alleges that the state government obtained a Supreme Court stay to stall an SIT investigation ordered by the High Court, suggesting an attempt to protect those in power. The party argues that only an independent central agency like the CBI can conduct a credible probe without political interference from the ruling Congress.
Who has been arrested in the KPSC scam so far?
Four key figures have been arrested: former KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, KPSC member B.V. Geetha, former Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, and middleman-cum-BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale. All are currently in judicial custody.
What was the scale of the bribery in the KPSC scam?
Candidates reportedly paid bribes ranging between ₹30 lakh and ₹50 lakh, with initial demands allegedly as high as ₹80 lakh per seat. A day before the examination, some candidates were allegedly taken to luxury resorts and villas in Bengaluru, where they were given leaked question papers and answer keys.
What role does Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy play in this controversy?
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has been a vocal critic of the state government's handling of the KPSC case. The JD(S) has defended his stance as a fight to protect the futures of young job aspirants, rejecting the Congress government's characterisation of it as politically motivated.
