Bengaluru, Sep 7 The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar in connection with the alleged recruitment-related irregularities.
The court, while dismissing the plea, orally observed that people were "completely losing faith in the system" and questioned what would happen to meritorious students if such irregularities continued.
The plea was rejected by a single-judge bench headed by Justice S Vishwajith Shetty.
Sahukar's anticipatory bail plea had earlier been rejected by a trial court in August, following which he approached the High Court seeking relief.
Appearing for the State, Public Prosecutor B N Jagadeesha opposed the plea, submitting that the former Karnataka Public Service Commission Chairman's custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the larger conspiracy.
He said the investigation had so far revealed allegations of question paper leakage, manipulation of OMR sheets, payments to middlemen and encrypted communications among those allegedly involved in the recruitment process.
The State contended that Sahukar, as chairman and head of the KPSC at the relevant time, was responsible for ensuring that the Commission's operations were fair, transparent and lawful. The evidence gathered during the investigation, it said, prima facie indicated his involvement in the alleged irregularities.
The prosecution further submitted that there was every likelihood that Sahukar had connived with arrested accused persons, particularly IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, the then Controller of Examinations of the KPSC, and Basavaraj Kannale, an alleged middleman.
The State said the investigation was being conducted from this angle and that the precise nature and extent of Sahukar's alleged involvement had to be ascertained through his interrogation and examination of the material collected during the probe.
It also submitted that there had been consistent communication and contact between Sahukar and Gangwar during the period when the Veterinary Officer examination was conducted. The nature, purpose and content of the communications required further investigation and verification, it said.
Senior designated counsel M Arun Shyam, appearing for Sahukar, submitted that allegations had been made against all office-bearers of the KPSC and that, in the present case, the only allegation against his client was that he had helped a relative.
"There is a possibility that Sahukar may be arrested under political pressure. He has undergone thyroid and cardiac surgery. Considering the petitioner's age and health, he should be granted protection," he pleaded.
Reacting to the health grounds cited by the defence, the court asked, "Do you remember health and other issues only when you come to court."
The judge further observed that Sahukar's role appeared to be more serious compared to others.
"The documents furnished by the government point to the petitioner's role. Such activities must be brought to an end. Arrests must be made on the spot. This is a systematic fraud. The petitioner's family, examination controllers and members are all involved," it observed while dismissing the petition.
The KPSC has been in turmoil following Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's suspension of Sahukar on July 13, amid allegations that he facilitated the illegal selection of his two daughters as Industrial Extension Officers.
The CID is investigating the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers -- 342 regular and 58 backlog posts -- following a complaint lodged with the Vidhana Soudha police station on July 24. The case was subsequently transferred to the agency.
The probe covers alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination, including the handling of examination records and OMR sheets, as well as the role of officials and others allegedly involved.
The CID has arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who served as Controller of Examinations of the KPSC from February 2024 to March 2026, and Basavaraj Kannale, an alleged mastermind and syndicate member of Tumkur University, in connection with the case.
