Kerala PSC: Former official arrested in alleged exam irregularities case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch wing of the state police on Wednesday arrested former Kerala PSC Deputy Secretary P Satheesh in connection with alleged irregularities in the commission's examination-related activities, official sources said here. Satheesh, who was responsible for conducting examinations on a planning board appointment, was arrested from his residence in Kozhikode, they said.

The arrest comes ahead of the questioning of PSC chairperson M R Baiju by the Crime Branch's special investigation team (SIT). Baiju later appeared before the probe team at the Crime Branch headquarters on Wednesday. The state government had earlier suspended R Hari, Additional Secretary in the PSC's examination wing, and withheld Satheesh's retirement benefits as part of the action taken in the case.

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Chief Minister V D Satheesan told the Keralam Assembly on Monday that 188 complaints had been received over alleged irregularities in the PSC, covering examinations, interviews and the evaluation of answer scripts.

He added that a detailed investigation was underway into the allegations, including whether the PSC chairperson or members had any role in the alleged irregularities and whether there were lapses in the conduct of examinations.