A view of Udyoga Soudha, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) head office near Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
Hours after opposition party leaders demanded a CBI probe, the Karnataka government has transferred two FIRs related to the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Veterinary Officer recruitment to the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
The two cases were initially registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station. The first FIR was filed based on a complaint lodged by the Department of Animal Husbandry, while the second was registered following a complaint by a Veterinary Officer aspirant, Manjunath. The transfer was ordered by the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP).
The development comes amid allegations that a Veterinary Officer’s post was being offered for as much as ₹80 lakh, with investigators probing the role of kingpins and possible involvement of KPSC staff.
Two middlemen being interrogated
Police have decided to subject the two arrested middlemen — Sikandar Chaudhary (46), a headmaster from Vijayapura, and Arif Mohammed Mulla (45) of Jamakhandi in Bagalkot district — to further interrogation. Investigators suspect the duo may have played a key role in the alleged recruitment racket.
The two were arrested after KPSC Assistant Secretary B.R. Veena filed a complaint alleging that Arif had approached candidates claiming he could provide answers during the written examination in return for ₹70 lakh.
During the investigation, police allegedly found that ₹1.5 lakh had been transferred from a candidate’s bank account to Sikandar’s, prompting authorities to freeze the account. Although the accused claimed they had merely misused KPSC’s name to cheat candidates, investigators suspect they maintained links with individuals inside the Commission who may have facilitated the fraud.
Investigators are also examining whether any serving KPSC officials or staff assisted the accused in carrying out the alleged scam.
Forensic analysis of audip clip
A covertly recorded audio conversation between Arif and a job aspirant has emerged as a crucial piece of evidence. The recording, reportedly obtained through a sting operation conducted by Akhila Karnataka Rajya Vidyarthigala Sangha president Kanthakumar and a candidate, allegedly captures Arif stating that securing a Veterinary Officer post would cost ₹80 lakh, with an advance payment of ₹40 lakh.
Police have initiated the process of collecting Arif’s voice sample for forensic analysis at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).
There are a total of three cases related to the alleged KPSC recruitment scam. While investigations are underway in the first two cases, the third case — allegedly linked to the daughter of the KPSC Chairman — is currently pending before the High Court. Police are awaiting the court’s orders before proceeding with further investigation in that case.
Published – July 28, 2026 05:20 pm IST
