JD(S) protests outside KPCC office over alleged recruitment irregularities, demands CBI probe

Bengaluru: JD(S) cadres on Tuesday staged a protest outside the KPCC office here, against the alleged irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process and accused the ruling Congress of attempting to shield those responsible. The protesters, who tried to gherao the Congress office, were detained by police. JD(S) MLC T A Sharavana said the party was focusing on the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPCC) scam and demanded justice for the affected aspirants.

"We are focusing on the KPSC scam which is huge. We need to do justice to the agrevied students," he said. The protesters also demanded that those allegedly involved in the irregularities should be brought under the CBI probe. Protesters alleged that the commission had been turned into a "den of corruption" in the name of reforms and claimed that crores of rupees had changed hands in appointments and recruitment-related irregularities.

They also demanded the resignation of Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, holding him responsible for irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process. The JD(S) leaders also alleged tampering of OMR sheets and manipulation of examinations, and claimed that recruitment deals involving crores of rupees had taken place. The protesters said the alleged irregularities had affected the aspirations of unemployed youth across the state and reiterated their demand for a CBI investigation.

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The alleged scam came to light in July after a group of veterinary doctors lodged a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha Police, alleging irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process for 400 veterinary officer posts in the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department and sought a probe into the selection process. The recruitment examination was conducted by the KPSC in January 2026, while the final selection list was published on July 17.

The complainants alleged that several candidates were approached by middlemen who demanded between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 80 lakh in exchange for securing appointments. They claimed that they had audio clips of conversations which they had submitted to the police. Recently, CID officials arrested IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar and alleged mastermind Basavaraj Kannale in the alleged irregularities.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy had recently demanded the resignation of Kharge for allegedly allowing the recruitment to 24 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) posts at the department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj through KPSC when he was holding the portfolio in the previous Siddaramaiah government. He noted that concerns over manipulation of OMR sheets, missing CCTV footage and procedural violations in appointment of AEE had been raised within the KPSC before the final selection process was completed, but appointments were nevertheless allowed to proceed. Minister Kharge on Monday said he was ready to retire from politics if his direct or indirect role in the alleged KPSC recruitment irregularities was proved.