The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment irregularities has reportedly uncovered that arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar was receiving minute-by-minute guidance from influential persons and was allegedly counselled to dodge the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation, officials stated on Thursday, 3 September. The revelations mark a significant escalation in one of Karnataka's most closely watched recruitment fraud cases.

The Flight from Bengaluru

According to the CID investigation, Gyanendra Kumar allegedly fled Bengaluru by air to Delhi shortly after the ED conducted raids at the residence of KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and the KPSC office. Suspecting he could be the next target, the officer reportedly took the preemptive step of leaving the city.

From Delhi, Kumar reportedly travelled to Noida, where he checked into a hotel room and met a female friend. While there, he allegedly received a call from an unnamed influential person warning him that an ED raid on him was imminent and that his alleged role in the case had come to light. The caller reportedly advised him to leave immediately — a warning that, according to investigators, triggered a quarrel between Kumar and his companion.

Sri Lanka Stay and Return

Kumar subsequently returned to Delhi, where he reportedly invited three friends to his room before travelling to Sri Lanka, where he stayed for two days. After reportedly learning that a lookout notice could be issued against him, he returned to Chennai and then made his way back to Bengaluru. He reportedly stayed at a resort in Devanahalli, on the outskirts of the city near Kempegowda International Airport.

Advised to Face CID, Not ED

The investigation has reportedly found that influential persons advised Gyanendra Kumar not to respond to the ED notice and instead present himself before the CID for questioning. Following this counsel, he attended CID proceedings. After being questioned on the second day, he reportedly left the CID office, only to return after receiving a phone call — reportedly informing him that ED officials were waiting at his residence. He was subsequently arrested by the CID in the early hours of that day.

Separately, a purported video of Gyanendra Kumar dancing and partying with men and women has circulated widely on social media. The authenticity and context of the video have not been independently verified. Investigators have also noted that Kumar had applied for leave citing his father's heart surgery as the reason.

BJP Leader Basavaraj Kannale Under Scrutiny

The CID investigation has simultaneously intensified against BJP leader and alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale, who is suspected of maintaining connections at both the state and national level and reportedly has contact with several politicians. A CID team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Geetha escorted Kannale to his Bengaluru residence on Thursday as part of the probe. A mahazar — an official panchnama — is reportedly being conducted at the premises as investigators gather further evidence.

Scope of the Investigation

The CID is now examining the alleged network of middlemen and influential persons suspected of manipulating the KPSC recruitment process, as well as the links between officials, political figures, and other individuals connected to the case. This is the latest in a series of recruitment fraud cases to roil Karnataka's administrative machinery in recent years, raising broader questions about oversight mechanisms within the state's public service selection process. How far the web of influence extends — and whether senior political figures are formally named — will determine the trajectory of the case in the weeks ahead.