ED raids IAS officer in Karnataka exam money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday raided the premises of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in Bengaluru and Bareilly in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in an exam conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), officials said.

Gangwar is a 2016-batch IAS officer and is currently posted as Director-MSME in the Karnataka Department of Industries and Commerce. He earlier served as the Controller of Examinations at the KPSC and was replaced in March this year.

Officials said Gangwar’s premises in Bengaluru’s Jayamahal area and UP’s Bareilly were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It was not immediately known if the officer was found on the premises by the central agency. A controversy erupted on Saturday after Gangwar was reported missing for a few hours. Later, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge denied the reports and clarified that Gangwar was in his native place in UP following a family emergency involving his father’s health.

The probe is linked to a money laundering investigation into a Veterinary Officers recruitment exam ‘scam’. It is alleged by the ED that some middlemen called the candidates, including the complainant, and demanded bribes ranging from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh (per candidate) for selection.

Additionally, the agency is looking into allegations of paper leak, OMR answer sheet tampering and facilitation in final selection of relatives of KPSC officials, ED officials had said. Last week, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to recommend to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot the suspension of KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar.