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Suspended KPSC chairperson arrested
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and member BV Geeta, arrested in the alleged job-for-cash scam, were on Wednesday remanded to 14 days of Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody by a special court.The duo was produced before special judge Manjunath Sangreshi, who granted ED custody for further questioning over allegations that answer keys were sold to candidates appearing for veterinary examinations held in Jan.The ED alleged that at least 29 candidates paid between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 80 lakh to obtain examination materials before the tests.Special public prosecutors Madhu N Rao and DM Maheshwari told the court that the agency had documents indicating that Sahukar and Geeta sold answer keys to six candidates — Dr Nandeesh B, Dr Sooguresh Jaka, Dr Kiran Kumar, Dr Tejas SS, Dr Vinuta Mallappa Hittalamani and Dr Naveen Kumar N.Rao said the prime accused, Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, had admitted that answer keys for Vinuta and Nandeesh were leaked through Geeta a few days before the examination.According to Rao, Gangwar said Geeta provided him with the roll numbers of six candidates seeking veterinary officer posts and asked for their answer keys. Since he had access to the jumbled chart and seating arrangement, he supplied the correct keys to her. Gangwar also identified the six candidates from the final veterinary officer selection list, Rao said.The ED alleged that the suspected malpractice extended beyond answer key leaks. Gangwar reportedly told investigators that, while preparing the 1:3 merit list, several KPSC members and officials approached him to ascertain the merit positions of specific candidates before publication.“If the merit position was favourable, the concerned members or officials would demand hefty bribes, claiming their intervention had facilitated the candidate’s final selection,” Rao told the court.Armed security at courtA six-member central armed police team, including two women personnel, accompanied Sahukar and Geeta to court. Four were carrying self-loading rifles, while two entered the courtroom and stood guard during the proceedings.Arguments continued for more than two hours before the judge pronounced the order around 5.30pm.Sahukar’s counsel said the 61-year-old is a senior citizen with health issues and argued that the CID, which is also probing the case, had neither named him nor found evidence that he received money. Counsel said Sahukar was willing to cooperate with the ED.Geeta’s counsel argued that the agency had not provided sufficient material to establish the grounds of her arrest and had no evidence, apart from allegations, that she sold answer keys.Cash deposit slips recoveredThe ED also said searches of Sahukar’s office and residence yielded several cash deposit slips, some allegedly showing deposits in the names of Geeta and her daughter.The court questioned the circumstances surrounding the deposits.Geeta’s counsel said Sahukar lived in a flat owned by Geeta and paid Rs 75,000 a month in rent. The two were family friends and supported each other financially, including towards their children’s education, counsel said.
