The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that suspended IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar received ₹1.30 crore in cash from an alleged middleman in connection with the leakage of a Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Veterinary Officer recruitment examination paper.

The allegations were presented before a Bengaluru special court as the ED sought custody of Gangwar in a money-laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court subsequently remanded Gangwar to six days of ED custody, until September 26, according to court reporting. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.

ED Claims ₹1.50 Crore Was Collected From Candidates

According to the ED’s remand application, alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale collected around ₹1.50 crore from candidates who were seeking access to the leaked examination material.

The agency alleges that approximately ₹1.30 crore of that amount was subsequently handed over to Gangwar in cash.

The ED is investigating the alleged flow of funds as part of its money-laundering probe and has sought to determine how the proceeds were collected, transferred and potentially converted into other assets.

Question Paper Allegedly Handed Over Before Examination

The ED has alleged that Gangwar provided the Veterinary Officer recruitment examination question paper, along with its answers, to Kannale through an HP pen drive on January 7, 2026.

The examination was scheduled for January 9.

Investigators allege that candidates who had paid money were subsequently given access to the examination material before the test. Earlier CID investigations have also examined allegations that selected candidates were taken to a resort and coached using leaked questions.

The recruitment examination was conducted for 400 Veterinary Officer posts in Karnataka.

Jewellery and Other Financial Transactions Under Investigation

The alleged financial trail also includes purchases of jewellery.

The ED told the court that approximately ₹23 lakh was spent on gold jewellery using funds connected to the alleged recruitment racket. Separate CID proceedings have examined additional jewellery purchases and other expenditures allegedly linked to the money collected from candidates.

Investigators are also examining financial transactions and other records to establish the full extent of the alleged money trail.

Gangwar Served as KPSC Examination Controller

Gangwar served as the Controller of Examinations at KPSC from 2024 until March 2026.

His role has brought particular attention to the alleged paper leak because investigators are examining how examination material could have been accessed and transferred before the test.

The ED is also investigating whether alleged proceeds from other recruitment examinations conducted during his tenure could be connected to the wider financial network.

Investigation Expands to Other KPSC Officials

The investigation is not limited to Gangwar and Kannale.

Authorities are examining the possible involvement of other individuals associated with the recruitment process, including suspended KPSC chairman Sahukar S. Shivashankarappa.

Investigators are looking into alleged communications, financial transactions and relationships between individuals involved in the recruitment process. The allegations against other officials remain under investigation and should not be treated as established findings.

Recruitment Process Came Under Scrutiny After Complaints

The alleged irregularities emerged after concerns were raised over the Veterinary Officer recruitment examination and selection process.

The CID investigation has examined allegations involving question-paper leakage, payments by candidates and the use of leaked material to prepare candidates before the examination. Earlier reporting said 329 candidates were selected from the recruitment process, while investigators were examining allegations involving candidates who allegedly paid money for selection.

The financial investigation by the ED is now focused on identifying the alleged proceeds of crime and tracing their movement.

High Court Orders Fresh Investigation

The wider KPSC controversy has also resulted in judicial intervention.

Recent reporting indicates that the Karnataka High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh investigation into alleged irregularities connected with KPSC recruitment, including the Veterinary Officer examination.

The developments have expanded the case beyond the alleged paper leak to broader questions about recruitment procedures, financial transactions and the functioning of the commission.

ED Probe Continues

The six-day ED custody of Gangwar is intended to allow investigators to question him about the alleged financial transactions, identify other participants and trace the suspected proceeds of crime.

The case remains at the investigation stage. Allegations made by the ED or CID will ultimately have to be tested through the judicial process.

The KPSC controversy has meanwhile triggered wider scrutiny of recruitment examinations in Karnataka, with investigators continuing to examine whether the alleged network extended beyond the Veterinary Officer recruitment test.

Chandigarh: A senior citizen couple from Chandigarh’s Sector 23-C has allegedly lost more than ₹2.26 lakh after falling victim to an online fraud in which scammers impersonated customer support executives from a well-known home services platform.

The Cyber Crime Police Station in Sector 17 has registered a case and initiated a technical investigation into the phishing operation. Authorities have already frozen one of the suspected beneficiary bank accounts while tracing the movement of the stolen money through multiple financial channels.

Fraud Began with Fake AC Service Call

According to the police complaint, Harish Chander Madan received an unsolicited phone call from a person claiming to represent Urban Company, a popular home services provider. The caller, who introduced himself as Amit Kumar, offered a discounted air-conditioner servicing package ahead of the summer season.

After gaining the couple’s confidence, the fraudster convinced them to complete what was described as a mandatory digital verification process for booking the service. During the process, the victims were asked to click on links and enter sensitive banking details, including authentication credentials.

Investigators believe the information was used to gain unauthorized access to multiple bank accounts.

Over ₹2.26 Lakh Withdrawn

Police said unauthorized transactions were carried out between May 11 and May 12. The fraudsters allegedly transferred ₹1,74,149 from two bank accounts belonging to Harish Chander Madan, maintained with Punjab National Bank and Bank of India.

An additional ₹52,414 was withdrawn from three separate bank accounts held by his wife, Madhu Madan, taking the total financial loss to ₹2,26,563.

The couple discovered the fraud after reviewing transaction alerts received on their mobile phones and immediately reported the incident through the national cybercrime helpline.

Police Freeze Suspect Bank Account

Cyber investigators tracked the flow of funds to multiple bank accounts reportedly linked to individuals identified as Sachin, Sajit Ahmed, and Akhtar Khan.

Officials confirmed that one UCO Bank account associated with the investigation has been frozen to prevent further withdrawal of funds. Investigators are now examining bank records, mobile phone numbers, IP addresses, and digital transaction logs to identify those behind the scam.

Case Registered Under BNS

A criminal case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to cheating, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.

Police are also investigating whether the same fraud network has targeted other victims in Chandigarh or neighboring states using similar methods.

Cyber Police Issue Public Advisory

Following the incident, cybercrime officials have urged citizens, particularly senior citizens, to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited calls offering discounted home services or requesting online payments.

Authorities advised consumers to avoid sharing banking credentials, OTPs, PINs, passwords, or clicking on links sent by unknown callers. Genuine service providers generally process bookings and payments only through their official mobile applications or websites.

Anyone who suspects cyber fraud should immediately report the incident by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or by filing a complaint through the official cybercrime reporting portal to improve the chances of recovering lost funds.

The investigation remains ongoing.