Pramesh S Jain
The Enforcement Directorate (ED),Bengaluru Zonal Office,has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth ₹1.22 crore belonging to three former senior functionaries of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) in connection with the veterinary officer recruitment scam.
Those whose properties have been attached include former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, commission member Geetha B.V.Shivamurthy and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar,who was then Controller of Examinations (CoE).
The attachment order (PAO No.43/2026) was issued on November 13 under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to the ED investigation,the three officials allegedly abused their official positions in conspiracy with Basavaraj Kannale and others to collect illegal gratification from candidates in exchange for assured selection through question paper leaks,supply of candidate-specific answer keys and manipulation of confidential marks during preparation of the 1:3 eligibility list.
The investigation revealed that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar allegedly leaked question papers, with correct answers marked, to his close associate Basavaraj Kannale on January 7,2026.
Kannale allegedly circulated the papers among 10 candidates at villas on the outskirts of Bengaluru on January 8, a day before the examination.He reportedly demanded bribes ranging from ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh from candidates.
A portion of the money was allegedly collected in advance, while the remaining amounts were secured through blank signed cheques and promissory notes.
The ED found that the OMR answer sheets of these
candidates matched the initial answer key published by KPSC,including answers that were subsequently declared incorrect in the revised answer key.
Answer keys prepared for six candidates :
In another instance,at the alleged instance of former chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar,Gangwar used confidential seating arrangements and jumbled charts, which were under his custody, to prepare correct answers to 80 questions for six candidates.
The registration numbers of these candidates were allegedly provided by Geetha B.V.on January 8,2026, and the answers were handed over to her.
In return,the then chairman allegedly assured Gangwar of favourable interview marks in the KAS examination for a candidate of his choice.
The ED also seized a notebook from Sahukar’s residence containing centre-wise registration numbers of candidates, allegedly written in his handwriting.
Sahukar allegedly collected Rs.10 lakh in cash from one candidate against a deal of ₹20 lakh, while Geetha B.V. allegedly collected ₹20 lakh from another candidate against a deal of ₹40 lakh.
Money routed through cooperative society accounts
The ED investigation further revealed that the alleged illegal gratification was collected in cash and through bank accounts of M/s Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamita,Bhalki,Bidar,and other third parties.
The money was allegedly disguised through transactions recorded in bogus savings accounts.
Earlier,the ED conducted searches under Section 17 of the PMLA at multiple premises, including the KPSC office.
The agency arrested:
Basavaraj Kannale on September 17, 2026.
Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar on September 18,2026.
Shivashankarappa Sahukar and Geetha B.V.Shivamurthy on October 6,2026.
The arrests were made under Section 19 of the PMLA.
The ED investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered by Vidhana Soudha Police in Bengaluru under Sections 318(3), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,2023.
The FIRs relate to alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations for Veterinary Officer posts in the Karnataka government’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries,as well as submission of false certificates in KPSC recruitments.Further investigation is under way.
