Full Breakdown
Karnataka Public Service Commission Veterinary Exam Paper Leak Scandal
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Alleged Leak and Bribery Scheme
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleges that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, a 2016-batch IAS officer and then KPSC controller of examinations, supplied the Veterinary Officers Recruitment Examination question paper and answer key to middleman Basavaraj Kannale a day before the test. Candidates were required to pay an initial sum of roughly INR80 lakh each, later negotiated to INR30-40 lakh. Payments were collected in cash, bank transfers, signed blank cheques and promissory notes.
Background & Context
The exam, held on 8-9 January 2026, sought to fill 400 veterinary officer posts. Of the 1,400 candidates who appeared, 329 were initially selected before the investigation prompted a suspension of results. The ED’s probe began after FIRs were filed at Vidhana Soudha police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, alleging cheating and forgery.
Timeline
- 8-9 Jan 2026 – KPSC conducts the veterinary officer exam.
- 18-24 Aug 2026 – ED searches of 21 properties uncover material showing proceeds layered through bank transfers, gold purchases and cash for air travel.
- 29 Aug 2026 – Gangwar is arrested by the Karnataka CID.
- 17 Sep 2026 – Kannale is arrested by the ED.
- 18 Sep 2026 – Gangwar taken into ED custody under the PMLA.
- 21 Sep 2026 – A special PMLA court in Bengaluru grants the ED 14 days’ custody of Gangwar.
- 29 Sep 2026 – Kannale receives a 14-day custody order.
- 13 Oct 2026 (scheduled) – Karnataka High Court extends protection from arrest to a third-rank candidate pending further inquiry.
Data & Statistics
- Examination size: 400 vacancies; 1,400 candidates; 329 initially selected.
- Financial demands: Initial demand ? INR80 lakh per candidate; settled at INR30-40 lakh.
- Collected proceeds: Traced through cash, bank transfers, gold jewellery purchases and cash payments for air travel.
- Bank account link: An account of Om Lakshmi Souharda Sahakari Sangha Niyamitha in Bidar received part of the proceeds.
- Statistical test: CID probability analysis showed 99-100 % similarity in answer patterns among 14 top-ranking candidates, suggesting possible access to the leaked paper.
Official Statements & Responses
The ED states that Gangwar’s duties included finalising question papers, supervising printing and maintaining custody of confidential material, and alleges he “misused his official position” to provide the paper to Kannale.
The Karnataka High Court, while granting temporary protection from arrest to a third-rank candidate, ordered the individual to cooperate with investigations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Arrest dates: Some outlets cite Gangwar’s arrest on 29 August, while the ED’s timeline lists 18 September. Both dates appear in source material.
- Number of candidates implicated: CID analysis highlights 14 top-rankers; other reports reference 11 candidates who allegedly paid a total of INR1.52 crore. Overlap between these groups is unclear.
What’s Next
The ED continues to trace illicit proceeds and the wider network allegedly involved in the recruitment irregularities. Ongoing court proceedings will determine whether additional candidates are designated as approvers or face formal charges. The Karnataka High Court’s scheduled review on 13 October will address the status of the third-rank candidate’s protection from arrest.