The Enforcement Directorate has arrested suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and KPSC member BV Geetha in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of veterinary officers.
The arrests followed a fresh round of searches at properties linked to the two officials in Bengaluru. The ED is investigating alleged corruption and financial transactions connected with the selection process for 400 veterinary officer posts in Karnataka.
The case relates to allegations of question paper leakage, OMR answer sheet tampering and manipulation of the recruitment process. The Karnataka High Court records also refer to allegations that certain candidates received favourable treatment after payments were made.
According to the ED, middlemen allegedly demanded large amounts from candidates seeking selection. In some cases, the agency has cited alleged bribes of ₹30 lakh to ₹40 lakh per candidate linked to the leaked examination paper. Other complaints reportedly involved demands of ₹70 lakh to ₹80 lakh for selection.
The veterinary officer examination was conducted in January 2026 for 400 posts. Investigators later examined unusual examination results and alleged similarities in candidates’ answers as part of the probe into possible manipulation.
The ED investigation began after FIRs were registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station in Bengaluru. The agency subsequently registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and began tracing the alleged proceeds connected to the recruitment irregularities.
Earlier in September, the ED arrested former KPSC examination controller and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and middleman Basavaraj Kannale. The agency has alleged that they played roles in the question paper leak and the collection of illegal payments.
The arrests of Sahukar and Geetha are the fourth and fifth arrests reported in the wider investigation. Officials are now examining the alleged links between the different people involved and tracing financial transactions connected to the case.
Both Sahukar and Geetha are facing allegations as part of an ongoing investigation. The allegations have not been established as guilt by a court, and the probe is continuing under the PMLA.
The case has raised wider concerns about transparency in government recruitment examinations. Authorities are expected to examine the recruitment process, examination records, financial transactions and communications as the investigation progresses.