BENGALURU: The Karnataka government on Thursday suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who is facing allegations linked to irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process.Gangwar is currently in CID custody as the agency probes irregularities at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is separately investigating the case.“In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 3(2) read with 3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS (KN: 2016), is placed under suspension with immediate effect and until further orders, pending further investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department,” the government order said.During his suspension, the officer will be paid subsistence allowance in accordance with Rule 4 of All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969. He will also not be allowed to leave the headquarters under any circumstances without the written permission of the State Government.CID officials arrested Gangwar on August 29 in connection with irregularities in the KPSC recruitment examination for veterinary officers, following two days of intense questioning.Official sources said Gangwar was questioned as he had served as the controller of examinations at the KPSC from February 2024 to March 2026.He was taken into custody for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation, they said.A 2016-batch IAS officer, Gangwar is currently serving as director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in the Department of Industries and Commerce.The CID is probing allegations of irregularities in the recruitment examination, including the handling of examination records and OMR sheets, as well as the role of involved officials and others.Days before his arrest, Gangwar’s whereabouts had triggered controversy after he was reportedly “missing” following ED searches in connection with the alleged KPSC irregularities.However, state home minister Priyank Kharge later said Gangwar had informed him that he had gone to his native place in Uttar Pradesh, citing a family emergency involving his father’s health.The ED officials subsequently also conducted searches at Gangwar’s premises.In its preamble, the suspension order cited the deputy director, Directorate of Enforcement, Bangalore Zonal Office, as stating that material seized during the search and seizure operation under section 17 of the PMLA, 2002, indicates corruption was prevalent in the recruitment processes conducted by the KPSC, which is solely attributable to the controller of examinations of the KPSC (i.e.) Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, IAS.It further cited that, “The Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bengaluru, has stated that Gangwar was arrested on August 29 in connection with a case registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station under section 318(3) of the BNS and Section 10 of the Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act 2023, which is under investigation by the CID.“(With inputs from PTI)
