BJP Leader Detained in Karnataka Veterinary Officer Recruitment Case

The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has detained Basavaraj Kannale, a BJP functionary from Bidar district, in the national capital in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), as reported by ANI and Deccan Chronicle. Kannale, who is also a syndicate member of Tumakuru University and runs businesses including the travel sector, was detained for questioning and is being brought to Bengaluru, according to the same reports. He is likely to be produced before a court, where the CID may seek his police custody. Investigators suspect he may have played a role in the irregularities, senior officers told Deccan Chronicle.

Remand and Judicial Proceedings

A Bengaluru court on Monday remanded Kannale and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar to 10 days of CID custody, until September 9, to facilitate further questioning into the alleged question paper leak, manipulation of OMR answer sheets and other irregularities, as reported by Lokmat Times. Gangwar, who served as KPSC Controller of Examinations from 2024 to March 2026and is currently Director of MSME in the Industries Department, was arrested by the CID after being questioned for two days, and had earlier been remanded to one day of judicial custody, with the court directing he be produced before an open court on August 31, according to the same report. Investigators questioned Kumar extensively on August 28and 29, and officials are examining alleged inconsistencies in his statements, Lokmat Times reported. Officials said Gangwar failed to cooperate during interrogation, leading to his detention, as reported by ANI and Deccan Chronicle. Gangwar had recently remained incommunicado for two days from August 20 before contacting the government, the same reports noted.

Background of the Case

The case was initially registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station based on complaints by the Department and by aspirant Manjunath, and was later transferred to the CID by the DGP, according to ANI and Deccan Chronicle. Two middlemen, Sikandar Chaudhary and Arif Mulla, were arrested earlier, and the middlemen were allegedly demanding Rs 80 lakh per post, with Rs 40 lakh advance, to boost marks through OMR sheet tampering and question paper leaks, the same reports said. The alleged irregularities relate to the KPSC recruitment for 400 Veterinary Officer posts in the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department; the exam was held on January 8th, and the final list was published on July 17th, according to ANI and Deccan Chronicle. The CID has sent 658 OMR sheets to the Forensic Science Laboratory(FSL) for forensic examination, and the Enforcement Directorate(ED) is also probing the money trail, ANI and Deccan Chronicle reported.

Investigation Scope

Lokmat Times reported that the CID probe is expected to widen to former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar, commission officials and other individuals associated with the recruitment process. Investigators have collected details of four recruitment examinations conducted over the past three years, including those for the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Industries and Commerce Department and the veterinary officer recruitment examination, the same report said. The agency is examining the alleged involvement of officials and intermediaries in facilitating recruitment, and has also investigated allegations that selected candidates were provided training at hotels and resorts as part of the process, according to Lokmat Times.

The CID conducted a search at Kannale's residence in Donagapura village in Bhalki taluk of Bidar district, Lokmat Times reported. Kannaleis reportedly considered close to former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA N. Ashwath Narayan, and is seeking a BJP ticket to contest from the Bhalki Assembly constituency, the same report said. The ED has conducted searches at the residences of the former KPSC chairman, commission members and officials, and had earlier searched Kumar's residence, where he was reportedly not present at the time as he had travelled to Uttar Pradesh, with officials subsequently opening the house using a duplicate key, Lokmat Times reported. The CID had also earlier searched the KPSC office, according to the same report.

Allegations and Political Response

Lokmat Times reported that the investigation has revealed that Kumarwas allegedly involved in the question paper leak, and investigators suspect the leaked question paper was sold to candidates for around Rs 40 lakh each with the assistance of Kannale, who is being investigated for his alleged role as a middleman. The CID is also probing allegations that attempts were made to destroy evidence by manipulating OMR answer sheets and deleting CCTV footage from the strongroom, the same report said.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje asserted that a CBI probe is essential to ensure transparency and accountability and restore public confidence in the recruitment system, as reported by ANI and Deccan Chronicle.