BENGALURU: The High Court of Karnataka has granted six days’ interim bail to self-styled political activist Basavaraj Kannale, a prime accused in the high-profile Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) veterinary officer recruitment cash-for-jobs scam.Justice Vishwajith Shetty ruled on Monday that Kannale be released on interim bail from October 15 to October 20 to allow him to attend the naming ceremony of his newborn daughter. However, the court has mandated strict security measures, directing the police to escort Kannale at all times during his temporary release. Kannale will travel to Bidar in north Karnataka.Kannale is currently in judicial custody at Bengaluru Central Prison, where he is lodged alongside another prime suspect, suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar.Investigators have identified Gangwar and Kannale as central figures who allegedly leveraged their influence to compromise the examination and recruitment process. While Kannale’s defence counsel has maintained his innocence, previously arguing that his name did not figure in the original first information report (FIR), the prosecution has maintained that he was deeply involved in managing the illicit transactions.The case is being probed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The CID arrested Gangwar and Kannale, while the ED also arrested suspended KPSC chairperson Shivashankarappa Sahukar and member BV Geetha, in addition to the two accused.
