Bengaluru: Supreme Court has removed senior IPS officer Alok Kumar and Forensic Science Laboratory chief Divya Gopinath from the five-member special investigation team constituted by Karnataka high court to investigate alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) veterinary officers’ recruitment case.
Hearing Cong govt’s petition against the HC’s Sept 21 order, the top court modified the order and allowed SIT to proceed with the probe, while sending the matter back to the high court. The apex court ordered Karnataka police chief DG&IGP MA Saleem to recommend names of two new members, including the SIT head, within 10 days. Following petitions by affected candidates, HC had ordered a court-monitored probe by constituting a five-member SIT to investigate all irregularities within 100 days.
CID launched an extensive probe, arresting former KPSC examination controller and IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, along with middleman Basavaraj Kannale. Later, high court will review its composition. Senior police officers Anup A Shetty, Kushal Chouksey, and Kshama Mishra are part of the probe team. Enforcement Directorate stepped in after money-laundering trails linked proceeds to gold purchases and real estate transactions. ED arrested two more accused — former KPSC chairperson Shivashankarappa Sahukar and member BV Geeta. DGP Alok Kumar (prisons and correctional services) has written to chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh, contesting submissions made by the state govt’s counsel before Supreme Court regarding his integrity and alleged involvement in past investigations.
The top court directed that SIT — and not Criminal Investigation Department — should file a chargesheet in the case. Also, it clarified that SIT will not conduct a fresh investigation as ordered by the HC. Instead, it directed SIT to take over from CID.