The Karnataka High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Veterinary Officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order on September 21, 2026, while hearing a batch of petitions concerning alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. The case relates to the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers in Group A posts under the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
The High Court decided that the investigation should be taken away from the Criminal Investigation Department and the jurisdictional police and handed over to a newly constituted SIT. The Court also declined to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation, instead directing the State to establish a specialised investigation team.
The SIT will be headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar, who is Director General of Police for Prisons and Correctional Services. Other members of the team include Forensic Science Laboratory Director Divya Gopinath, Deputy Commissioner of Police Anup Shetty, Superintendent of Police Kushal Chouksay and Deputy Commissioner of Police Shama Mishra.
The Court has directed the Karnataka government to formally notify the SIT and provide the team with the necessary powers and resources to conduct the investigation. The existing investigating agencies have also been instructed to hand over the records and evidence collected during their investigations.
The CID and jurisdictional police have been directed to transfer the materials gathered so far to the SIT within one week of the order. This includes documentary records, electronic evidence and other material relevant to the allegations.
The SIT has been directed to conduct a fresh investigation into the allegations. The Court said the investigation should not be restricted only to individuals who have already been named in the registered cases. If evidence points to the involvement of additional individuals or reveals other offences during the investigation, the SIT can examine those matters as part of its probe.
The allegations relate to the recruitment process for 400 Veterinary Officers conducted by the KPSC. Various petitioners had raised concerns about the fairness and integrity of the recruitment process and sought an independent investigation.
Among the allegations reported in connection with the case are claims of question paper leakage, manipulation of examination records and OMR sheets, and the involvement of intermediaries. These remain allegations under investigation and have not been established as final findings against every person named or referred to in the proceedings.
Earlier, the Karnataka government had transferred the investigation into two cases concerning the alleged recruitment irregularities to the CID. The move followed complaints relating to the selection process for Veterinary Officers.
The KPSC had also placed the final selection list for the Veterinary Officer recruitment on hold while an internal inquiry was conducted. The recruitment examination had been held in January 2026.
The controversy subsequently led to demands from petitioners and others for a probe by an independent agency. Some petitioners had sought a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities. The High Court, however, concluded that a specialised SIT would be appropriate for conducting the fresh investigation.
The Court has also directed the SIT to cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate, which is conducting a parallel investigation into the financial aspects of the allegations. The ED has registered proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the alleged predicate offences.
The latest developments come as the financial investigation has also progressed. On September 22, reports said the Enforcement Directorate had taken suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar into six days of custody in connection with its money laundering investigation. The ED has alleged that a middleman paid money to the officer in connection with the alleged examination paper leak. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation and remain subject to judicial proceedings.
The High Court has placed a specific timeline on the new investigation. The SIT has been directed to submit its final report within 100 days from the commencement of the investigation. It must also submit progress reports to the Court every 30 days.
The Court has emphasised the need for an investigation that proceeds on the basis of evidence. The SIT has been directed to examine the available material and pursue any additional evidence that emerges during the investigation.
The Court's order also aims to avoid prolonged uncertainty for candidates involved in the recruitment process. The High Court noted concerns about delays affecting job aspirants, including the possibility that candidates could face age-related limitations or lose other employment opportunities while the recruitment process remains unresolved.
The investigation will now be conducted by the newly constituted SIT, with the CID and other police units required to hand over their records. The ED will continue its separate investigation into the financial aspects of the case while cooperating with the SIT where necessary.
The Karnataka High Court is scheduled to consider the matter again on January 5, 2027. The Court is expected to consider the criminal petitions seeking relief from the cases under investigation after receiving the SIT's final report.
The High Court's latest order therefore marks a new stage in the investigation into the alleged KPSC Veterinary Officer recruitment irregularities. The SIT will now examine the allegations independently, review the evidence collected by previous investigating agencies and submit periodic reports to the Court.
The allegations should not be treated as established guilt against any individual unless proved through the appropriate legal process. The final findings will depend on the evidence collected and the outcome of the investigation and subsequent judicial proceedings.