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The Enforcement Directorate has searched IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar’s properties in Bengaluru and Bareilly as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the KPSC veterinary officer recruitment exam.
New Delhi/Bengaluru: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Sunday intensified its probe into the alleged KPSC recruitment scam by searching the premises of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in Bengaluru and Bareilly. The action brought fresh focus on allegations of bribery, paper leaks and manipulation in the Karnataka veterinary officer recruitment examination.
The searches, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are part of a wider financial investigation into alleged corruption in one of Karnataka’s major government recruitment processes.
The national agency carried out searches at the residential premises of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in Bengaluru’s Jayamahal area and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. ED is examining alleged financial irregularities connected to the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) veterinary officer recruitment examination.
Gangwar, a 2016-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, is currently posted as Director of MSME in the Karnataka Department of Industries and Commerce. Before this role, he served as the Controller of Examinations at KPSC during the period when the controversial recruitment examination was conducted. He was replaced from the Controller of Examinations post in March this year.
The ED searches are aimed at gathering documents, financial records and other evidence that could help investigators trace the alleged money trail linked to the recruitment process.
The investigation revolves around allegations of large-scale irregularities in the selection process for veterinary officers conducted through KPSC. The Enforcement Directorate is probing claims that middlemen allegedly contacted candidates and demanded huge amounts of money in exchange for ensuring selection.
Investigators are looking into allegations of paper leaks, tampering with OMR answer sheets and possible manipulation in the final selection process. The agency has also examined claims that candidates were allegedly asked to pay around ₹70 lakh to ₹80 lakh for securing government jobs.
The financial probe is focused on whether illegal payments were generated, transferred through channels and converted into assets, bringing the case under the scope of money laundering laws.
The latest searches come days after the ED launched its first major crackdown in the case on August 18. During the earlier operation, the agency searched the KPSC headquarters in Bengaluru along with premises linked to former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, KPSC member Shanta Hosmani and other individuals connected with the recruitment process.
The investigation has now widened to examine the possible role of officials, intermediaries and other persons involved in the alleged recruitment network.
The ED searches came shortly after reports that IAS officer Gyanendra Gangwar was untraceable for a brief period, triggering political discussion. The matter gained attention as it coincided with developments in the KPSC investigation.
However, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge later clarified that Gangwar was in his hometown in Uttar Pradesh due to a family emergency related to his father’s health. The Minister indicated that there was no confirmed connection between Gangwar’s absence and the ED probe, adding that the officer was available for any investigation.
The KPSC controversy has intensified debate over transparency in government recruitment examinations in Karnataka. For lakhs of aspirants preparing for government jobs, recruitment exams represent a pathway to stable employment and financial security.
Allegations of corruption, paper leaks and unfair selection processes can directly impact public confidence in the system. Experts believe strengthening digital monitoring, transparent evaluation systems and stricter accountability mechanisms will be essential to protect the credibility of competitive examinations.
The Karnataka government has also faced pressure over the alleged irregularities. The state Cabinet recently recommended action against former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and sent a proposal to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot regarding his suspension.
The move followed a Karnataka High Court decision that had earlier cancelled his suspension while allowing the possibility of fresh proceedings if legal procedures were properly followed.
Government job examinations are among the most competitive selection processes in India, with millions of young candidates depending on them every year. Cases involving alleged bribery networks, leaked papers or manipulated results raise concerns about merit-based selection and administrative accountability.
Beyond the immediate investigation, the KPSC case highlights the growing need for stronger anti-corruption frameworks, technology-driven monitoring and stricter safeguards in public recruitment systems.
