ED remands suspended KPSC chief in veterinary jobs probe

A special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday granted the Enforcement Directorate custody of suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and commission member B V Geetha until October 19. The order comes as the central investigative agency pursues a money laundering investigation into the alleged irregular selection of 400 veterinary officers.

The court's decision to remand both officials into ED custody marks a significant development in the ongoing probe into recruitment irregularities at the KPSC. The case focuses on whether procedures were circumvented or manipulated during the appointment process for the veterinary positions, triggering questions about the integrity of the public service recruitment system in the southern state.

The suspension of Sahukar from his position as KPSC chairman underscores the seriousness of the allegations. The ED's involvement indicates that authorities suspect financial irregularities or proceeds of crime linked to the recruitment manipulation, moving the investigation beyond administrative concerns into the domain of money laundering.

The extended remand period until October 19 suggests that investigative authorities require additional time to question the officials and gather evidence. The case has drawn attention to governance and accountability mechanisms within Karnataka's public service commission, with potential implications for the credibility of recruitment processes across state institutions.