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IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar has gone untraceable after travelling from Bengaluru to Delhi.
Bengaluru: A serving IAS officer disappearing without a trace has raised concern in Karnataka’s administrative circles. Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a 2016-batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, has reportedly been unreachable since August 20 after travelling from Bengaluru to Delhi, prompting police officials to begin efforts to locate him and understand the circumstances behind his sudden disappearance.
Gangwar, who is currently serving as Managing Director in the MSME Department under Karnataka’s Industries and Commerce Department, was last traced during his journey from Bengaluru to the national capital. While police are investigating every possible lead, officials have so far not confirmed any criminal angle or foul play.
The case has attracted wider attention because of Gangwar’s earlier association with the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), where he served as Controller of Examinations during a period when the commission has faced questions over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
According to police information, Gangwar travelled from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport to Delhi on August 20. He reportedly booked a last-minute IndiGo flight ticket and boarded the aircraft around 3 pm, reaching Delhi at approximately 6 pm. After arriving at the airport, he is believed to have taken a cab.
However, after leaving the airport area, his whereabouts could not be confirmed. His family members and officials reportedly could not establish contact with him, leading to concerns and verification efforts by authorities. Police are now checking details of the cab he took, airport records and other available information to trace his movements after landing in Delhi.
Sources said the flight ticket was purchased for around Rs 30,200 using an HDFC Bank card, and investigators are examining travel and digital records to understand his last known movements.
Bengaluru Police have started gathering information about Gangwar’s disappearance after receiving inputs from officials. However, authorities have clarified that no formal missing person complaint has been registered by his family or any other individual so far.
Police officials said they are focusing on locating the officer and collecting factual information before reaching any conclusion. At present, there is no confirmed evidence of foul play. Investigators are looking into multiple possibilities, including his travel route, phone activity, airport movements and other available leads.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the state government was aware of reports that the IAS officer had been unreachable for the last few days. The Minister said authorities were verifying the information received and working with police officials to trace Gangwar’s whereabouts.
The government has maintained that the situation is being monitored closely and further steps will be taken after the investigation provides more clarity.
While the immediate priority for police is finding the missing officer, his earlier posting with KPSC has added another dimension to the case. Gangwar served as Controller of Examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission until March this year. During this period, he was associated with several important recruitment-related responsibilities, including the veterinary officer examination held in January.
The KPSC has recently been under scrutiny following allegations of irregularities in recruitment processes. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also conducted searches linked to the alleged veterinary officer recruitment examination case.
However, authorities have not confirmed any connection between Gangwar’s disappearance and the ongoing KPSC investigation. Officials have urged people not to link the two developments without verified evidence.
The disappearance comes at a time when Karnataka’s recruitment system has become a major political issue. Questions over transparency in government examinations have triggered concern among job aspirants, who have repeatedly demanded a fair and accountable recruitment process.
The KPSC controversy has also involved allegations against its chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, leading to administrative and legal developments. The issue has become part of a wider political debate over corruption allegations, recruitment transparency and accountability within government institutions.
The Enforcement Directorate’s action in the veterinary officer recruitment case has increased attention on the functioning of KPSC. The agency has been investigating alleged financial irregularities connected with the recruitment examination and conducted searches at multiple locations linked to the case.
Because Gangwar previously held a key examination-related position, his disappearance has naturally attracted public attention. However, investigating agencies have not stated that he is connected to the alleged irregularities.
For a senior government officer, remaining unreachable for several days is unusual and has created concern among administrative officials. The focus now remains on finding Gangwar and understanding what happened after his arrival in Delhi.
Police teams are examining every possible source of information, from travel records to surveillance footage and communication details, to piece together the sequence of events.
