Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at 21 locations across Karnataka and Ahmedabad as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Veterinary Officers through the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).
The searches by the ED’s Bengaluru office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were carried out at the KPSC office, the residence of suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, KPSC member Shanta Hosmani, alleged middlemen, candidates selected as Veterinary Officers and the office of Edutest Solutions, the agency responsible for digital evaluation of examination papers.
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The searches were conducted in Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi and Belagavi, besides Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
The ED action follows four FIRs registered in Bengaluru alleging serious irregularities in the final selection process for Veterinary Officers.
According to the allegations, some middlemen approached candidates, including the complainant, and demanded bribes of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh per candidate in exchange for ensuring their selection. The complainant is also stated to have submitted audio recordings of conversations with the alleged middlemen to the law enforcement authorities.
The probe also covers allegations of examination paper leakage, tampering with OMR answer sheets and manipulation of the recruitment process to facilitate the selection of relatives of KPSC officials.
The ED is examining the role of individuals and entities involved in the examination and evaluation process and is looking for documentary and digital evidence relating to alleged financial transactions, manipulation of the recruitment process and the suspected money trail.
Sahukar was suspended by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot in July over allegations of misconduct linked to the selection of his daughters through KPSC recruitment.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
