KPSC paper leak case: Karnataka CM sanctions prosecution of suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has accorded sanction to prosecute suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, former Controller of Examinations of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), in connection with the alleged question paper leak in the Veterinary Officers’ recruitment examination.

Gangwar is accused of misusing his official position to leak the question papers and correct answers through middleman Basavaraj Kannale a day before the examination, allegedly facilitating malpractice in the recruitment process.

According to the investigation, Kannale allegedly collected up to a cumulative amount of ₹1.5 crore from candidates seeking access to the leaked examination material. Of this amount, ₹1.30 crore was allegedly handed over to Gangwar as illegal gratification, while the remaining amount was reportedly spent on gold.

Investigators have also alleged that some candidates were taken to a resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where they were given an opportunity to memorise the leaked answers ahead of the examination.

Gangwar was earlier suspended from service and remanded to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a parallel money-laundering investigation linked to the case. Gangwar, a 2016-batch IAS officer, served as KPSC Controller of Examinations from February 2024, to March 2026. He later held post as the Director, Department of MSMEs under the Commerce and Industries Ministry.

A significant step

The prosecution sanction is a significant step towards initiating criminal proceedings against the former KPSC official. It enables the investigating agency to proceed in accordance with the law in the corruption case involving alleged bribery, leakage of confidential examination material and irregularities in the recruitment process.

The allegations against Gangwar will have to be established through the judicial process.

KPSC has been in the eye of storm of over several recruitment scams in the past in Karnataka.