KPSC recruitment scam: CID report exposes ₹1.5 crore cash trail, OMR manipulation
Synopsis
The CID's report on the KPSC veterinary officer recruitment scam lays bare a ₹1.5 crore cash network involving a jailed IAS officer, a BJP leader accused of brokering posts, and five middlemen — all now under a court-supervised SIT with a 100-day deadline. The scale of alleged institutional capture makes this one of the most serious public service corruption cases in Karnataka in recent years.
Key Takeaways
The CID submitted its KPSC recruitment scam progress report to the Karnataka government and trial court on 22 September 2026 .
Over ₹1.5 crore in cash and bank funds, plus jewellery worth ₹22 lakh , has been traced or seized.
Arrested BJP leader Basavaraj Kannale allegedly collected ₹60 lakh from three candidates seeking veterinary officer posts.
Jailed IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar , former KPSC Controller of Examinations, is accused of manipulating OMR answer sheets .
The Karnataka High Court has transferred the probe to an SIT headed by IPS officer Alok Kumar , with a 100-day completion deadline.
The scam relates to the recruitment of 400 veterinary officer posts through the KPSC.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has submitted its investigation progress report on the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam to the Karnataka government and the trial court, revealing a detailed money trail, the alleged role of middlemen, and the manipulation of OMR answer sheets in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officer posts. The report was submitted on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, and marks a significant milestone in one of Karnataka's most closely watched public service corruption cases.
The Money Trail: Over ₹1.5 Crore Traced
According to the CID report, investigators have traced or seized over ₹1.5 crore in cash and bank holdings, along with gold and diamond jewellery valued at approximately ₹22 lakh. The financial probe has uncovered funds distributed across multiple accounts linked to the accused.
Specifically, ₹64 lakh was found in an account with Om Lakshmi Souharda Cooperative Bank, while ₹5.2 lakh was traced to a Kotak Mahindra Bank account. An additional ₹71 lakh was reportedly found in an account belonging to the wife of arrested Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Basavaraj Kannale. Investigators also seized ₹5.60 lakh in cash directly from Kannale.
Role of Accused BJP Leader Basavaraj Kannale
The CID report details the alleged role of Basavaraj Kannale, who is accused of collecting money from candidates by promising to help them secure veterinary officer posts. According to investigators, at least three candidates allegedly paid Kannale a combined ₹60 lakh in cash — Kiran Gowda reportedly paid ₹10 lakh, Mohammed Sohel paid ₹20 lakh, and Saleem Onti paid ₹30 lakh.
The report identifies five middlemen, including Kannale, as allegedly central to the recruitment scam. Investigators are examining how these individuals allegedly approached candidates, collected money, and facilitated access to examination-related material.
IAS Officer Gyanendra Kumar's Alleged Role in OMR Manipulation
The CID has also implicated jailed IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, who served as the KPSC Controller of Examinations. Investigators allege he assisted in manipulating OMR answer sheets during the recruitment process. The report further notes that jewellery worth approximately ₹20 lakh was allegedly given by Gyanendra Kumar to a female acquaintance, a transaction that has been incorporated into the financial trail under scrutiny.
This is not the first time a KPSC examination process has come under legal and investigative scrutiny; the current case follows a pattern of allegations that have previously surfaced around other state-level recruitment drives in Karnataka.
Case Handed Over to SIT on High Court Orders
Notably, the investigation has been transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) following a direction from the Karnataka High Court for a more detailed probe. The SIT is headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar, who has been directed to complete the investigation within 100 days and submit periodic progress reports to the court. The CID has been directed to transfer all case records to the SIT.
The original allegations — spanning question paper leaks, OMR sheet manipulation, and large-scale cash demands from candidates — surfaced after results were declared for the 400 veterinary officer posts under the KPSC recruitment drive. With the SIT now formally in charge and operating under court supervision, the next set of progress reports will be closely watched by candidates, legal observers, and political circles alike.
Point of View
But the 100-day deadline is ambitious for a multi-accused, multi-account case. More critically, the hundreds of candidates who sat the veterinary officer exam in good faith — and may have lost posts to those who paid — remain without clear redress. Their rehabilitation must be as urgent as the criminal prosecution.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KPSC recruitment scam about?
The KPSC recruitment scam involves alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officer posts by the Karnataka Public Service Commission, including question paper leaks, OMR sheet manipulation, and cash payments to middlemen in exchange for posts. The allegations surfaced after examination results were declared, prompting a CID investigation.
How much money has been traced in the KPSC scam investigation?
The CID has traced or seized over ₹1.5 crore in cash and bank accounts linked to the accused, along with gold and diamond jewellery worth approximately ₹22 lakh. Key amounts include ₹64 lakh in a cooperative bank account, ₹71 lakh in an account linked to Basavaraj Kannale's wife, and ₹5.60 lakh seized directly from Kannale.
Who is Basavaraj Kannale and what is his alleged role?
Basavaraj Kannale is an arrested BJP leader who is accused of acting as a middleman in the KPSC scam. He allegedly collected cash from at least three candidates — totalling ₹60 lakh — in exchange for promises of securing veterinary officer appointments.
What is IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar accused of?
Gyanendra Kumar, a jailed IAS officer who served as KPSC Controller of Examinations, is accused by investigators of assisting in the manipulation of OMR answer sheets during the recruitment process. He is also alleged to have given jewellery worth around ₹20 lakh to a female acquaintance, a transaction forming part of the financial trail under examination.
What happens next in the KPSC scam case?
The Karnataka High Court has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar, to take over the probe from the CID and complete it within 100 days, submitting periodic progress reports to the court. The CID has been directed to transfer all case records to the SIT.
