Kumaraswamy demands Priyank Kharge resign over IAS officer row, ED probe
Synopsis
HD Kumaraswamy has turned the screws on Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, demanding his resignation over contradictory statements about a missing IAS officer at the heart of an ED recruitment probe — and releasing documents he claims prove 24 engineers were appointed illegally on Kharge's watch.
Key Takeaways
HD Kumaraswamy demanded the resignation of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on 28 August over the IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar row.
Kumaraswamy alleged 24 AEEs were appointed illegally when Kharge headed the RDPR Department , defying court orders.
IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar , reportedly the examination controller, has been missing after ED raids on his Bengaluru residence.
Kharge reportedly said on 23 August he had spoken to the officer, but by 25 August claimed he did not know his whereabouts.
A person named Manjunath allegedly claimed ₹80 lakh was demanded for recruitment, with ₹40 lakh sought as advance — prompting ED scrutiny of financial transactions.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday, 28 August publicly demanded the resignation of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, citing what he called 'contradictory' statements over the whereabouts of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar amid an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged recruitment irregularities in Bengaluru.
Key Accusations Against Kharge
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy alleged that 24 assistant executive engineers (AEEs) were appointed in an 'illegal manner' when Kharge headed the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR) Department. He claimed the appointments proceeded despite court orders and a communication from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) advising against them.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that oral instructions were initially issued before the appointments were formally processed. He released OMR sheets, recruitment records, and other documents at the press conference, asserting they raised serious questions about the integrity of the appointment process.
'If you have any dignity and want to ensure transparent governance, Minister Priyank Kharge should resign immediately,' Kumaraswamy said.
The Gyanendra Kumar Controversy
At the centre of the row is IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, reportedly the controller of the examination in question. The officer has been missing from public view following ED raids on his Bengaluru residence, linked to an investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
Kumaraswamy pointed to what he described as a glaring inconsistency in Kharge's public statements. On 23 August, Kharge had reportedly said that Gyanendra Kumar had obtained permission to visit his ailing father and would return within two days, adding that the officer had sent an email and that he had spoken to him. However, by 25 August, Kharge reportedly stated he did not know the IAS officer's whereabouts.
'Why are you running the Home department if you say you do not know what is happening?' Kumaraswamy asked, alleging the shifting statements raised doubts about whether the government was shielding the officer.
Bribery Allegations and ED Scrutiny
The controversy deepened with allegations raised by a person named Manjunath, who reportedly claimed that ₹80 lakh was demanded for recruitment, with ₹40 lakh allegedly sought as an advance. Kumaraswamy said these allegations prompted the ED to examine financial transactions connected to the case.
This comes amid a broader pattern of ED scrutiny into Karnataka government appointments, making the recruitment row politically significant ahead of upcoming state-level debates on governance accountability.
Political Dimension
Kumaraswamy also criticised Kharge for making public statements on unrelated issues — including remarks on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — while allegedly failing to provide clarity on the recruitment controversy. He demanded that the Home Minister formally explain the government's position on the appointment process and the role of the examination controller.
With the ED probe ongoing and the IAS officer's whereabouts still unclear, the political pressure on the Karnataka government is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
Then says on 25 August he has no idea where that officer is, has a credibility problem that no press conference can paper over. The ED probe into Karnataka recruitment irregularities is still unfolding, but the political damage from the contradictory statements may prove harder to contain than the legal exposure. What is notably absent from the Karnataka government's public response is a clear account of who authorised what and when — the kind of procedural transparency that would blunt Kumaraswamy's attack.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is HD Kumaraswamy demanding Priyank Kharge's resignation?
Kumaraswamy is demanding Kharge's resignation over contradictory public statements about the whereabouts of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, who went missing after ED raids on his Bengaluru residence. He also alleged that 24 AEEs were illegally appointed when Kharge headed the RDPR Department.
Who is IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar and why is he significant?
Gyanendra Kumar is an IAS officer who was reportedly the controller of the recruitment examination under scrutiny. He became the centre of controversy after going missing following ED raids on his Bengaluru home in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
What are the specific recruitment irregularities alleged?
Kumaraswamy alleged that 24 assistant executive engineers were appointed in an illegal manner despite court orders and DPAR communications advising against the recruitment. A person named Manjunath also reportedly claimed that ₹80 lakh was demanded for recruitment, with ₹40 lakh sought as advance.
What did Priyank Kharge say about the missing IAS officer?
Kharge reportedly told reporters on 23 August that Gyanendra Kumar had obtained permission to visit his ailing father and would return in two days, adding that he had spoken to the officer. By 25 August, he reportedly said he did not know the officer's whereabouts — a shift Kumaraswamy called contradictory.
What is the ED probe in the Karnataka recruitment case about?
The Enforcement Directorate is investigating alleged financial irregularities linked to the recruitment of veterinary officers in Karnataka. The probe includes an examination of financial transactions following bribery allegations, and ED raids were conducted on IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar's Bengaluru residence.
