Kerala PSC scam: Chairman M.R. Baiju skips SIT probe for third time
Synopsis
Kerala PSC Chairman M.R. Baiju has now defied three successive SIT notices, refusing to appear for questioning in the PSC examination irregularities case and citing a pending High Court order. With two officials already in judicial custody and the court having made sharp observations, the SIT's move to approach the High Court could force a decisive turn in a probe that has repeatedly stalled at the top.
Key Takeaways
Kerala PSC Chairman M.R.
Baiju refused to appear before the SIT on Tuesday, 10 November , defying a third Crime Branch notice.
Baiju says he will cooperate only after the Kerala High Court's Single Bench issues its directive.
The SIT will place a report before the High Court , which had earlier made strong observations on his non-cooperation.
Two persons — one serving and one retired senior PSC official — have been arrested and are in judicial custody .
The probe centres on alleged irregularities in PSC examinations and appointments to the Kerala State Planning Board .
Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman M.R. Baiju has refused, for the third consecutive time, to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in the PSC examination process, saying he will wait for a directive from the Kerala High Court before cooperating with investigators. The latest refusal, on Tuesday, 10 November, came despite a third formal notice from the Crime Branch asking him to appear at its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram at 2.30 pm.
Key Developments
The SIT had issued successive notices to Baiju after he initially appeared for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in appointments made to top posts in the Kerala State Planning Board. When a second notice was served, he did not turn up. A third notice, directing him to report on Tuesday, was similarly ignored. Baiju has maintained that he will only appear once the High Court's Single Bench passes its order.
The SIT has now decided to place a detailed report before the Kerala High Court, following strong observations made by the court on Baiju's continued refusal to cooperate with the probe.
Arrests Made, Scrutiny Intensifies
The case has already resulted in the arrest of two persons, both of whom are currently in judicial custody. One is a serving senior official of the PSC; the other is a former PSC official who retired approximately a year ago. Their arrests have placed the commission's functioning — particularly the conduct of examinations and the handling of answer scripts — under intense scrutiny.
Investigators are examining the alleged role of officials in manipulating the PSC examination process, though formal charges have not yet been detailed publicly.
Court's Role Could Prove Decisive
The Kerala High Court's intervention is now expected to be a turning point in the investigation. The court's earlier strong observations on Baiju's non-cooperation signalled judicial impatience with the delays. The SIT's decision to approach the court again could result in directions that compel the PSC chairman's appearance — or escalate the matter further.
This is the latest in a series of setbacks for the probe, raising questions about the limits of investigative authority when senior constitutional officeholders invoke judicial processes to defer questioning.
What Happens Next
The SIT is expected to file its report before the Kerala High Court shortly. Legal observers note that the court's response will determine the pace and scope of the investigation going forward. The PSC itself remains under pressure to explain how such alleged irregularities could occur within its examination and appointment system, and what institutional checks failed.
Point of View
Invoked by the accused themselves, become a tool to slow accountability? The PSC chairman's tactic is legally defensible but institutionally corrosive — it signals to the public that seniority insulates officials from routine investigative process. The Kerala High Court's strong observations suggest the bench is alive to this dynamic; its next order will test whether the courts are willing to close that escape hatch. With two officials already in custody, the investigation has momentum below the top — but the top is precisely where the significant decisions about appointments and examination conduct would have been taken.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kerala PSC Chairman M.R. Baiju refusing to appear before the SIT?
M.R. Baiju has stated he will not appear for questioning until the Kerala High Court's Single Bench passes its order. He has cited this position consistently across three separate Crime Branch notices.
What is the Kerala PSC scam about?
The case involves alleged irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission's examination process and in appointments made to senior posts in the Kerala State Planning Board. The SIT is probing the role of PSC officials in these alleged irregularities.
Who has been arrested in the Kerala PSC scam so far?
Two persons have been arrested and are in judicial custody — one is a serving senior PSC official and the other is a former PSC official who retired about a year ago. Their arrests have intensified scrutiny of how examinations are conducted and answer scripts are handled.
What action is the SIT taking after Baiju's repeated refusals?
The SIT has decided to file a report before the Kerala High Court detailing Baiju's continued refusal to cooperate. The court had earlier made strong observations on his non-appearance, and its next directive is expected to be a key moment in the probe.
What is the Kerala High Court's role in this investigation?
The Kerala High Court has already made sharp observations on Baiju's non-cooperation with the SIT. Its upcoming order, following the SIT's report, is expected to determine the next course of action — including whether the PSC chairman can be compelled to appear for questioning.
