Karnataka govt appoints judicial commission to probe PSI recruitment scam

The Karnataka government has appointed a judicial commission under retired High Court Justice B Veerappa to probe allegations of large-scale irregularities in the recruitment of 545 police sub-inspectors (PSI).

Justice Veerappa, who retired on May 31, was known as a fearless judge. He headed a bench that abolished the Anti-Corruption Bureau, restoring powers of the Lokayukta.

The decision on ordering a judicial probe on this was in the works for more than a month.

In an order instituting the Commission of Inquiry, the Home Department has asked Justice Veerappa to conclude the probe and submit a report to the government in three months.

The PSI recruitment scam broke out last year when the then BJP government ordered a CID probe following allegations that the exam results were manipulated. This became a big tool for the Congress to attack the previous BJP government.

The written exam for the recruitment of 545 PSIs was held on October 3, 2021 at 92 centres. A total of 54,289 candidates wrote the exam.

Also Read | BJP, JD(S) launch joint fight against NICE in Karnataka

So far, 110 people have been arrested in connection with the scam, including 52 candidates who wrote the exam. These 52 candidates have been barred from participating in any police recruitment.

Senior IPS officer Amrit Paul was arrested for his alleged role in rigging the exam.

The previous BJP government annulled the results of the scam-hit recruitment exam and decided to hold a re-exam, which is yet to happen.

According to the order, the commission has been asked to probe the following: Were rules violated during the process of recruiting 545 PSIs? If yes, then what were the violations or illegalities and at what level were they committed? Who are the persons that gained undue benefit from the illegalities? What can the government do to recruit PSIs in a transparent and flawless manner?

The order has also asked the CID and the police recruitment wing to cooperate with the commission. Further, the state police chief should make sure the commission gets an office in Bengaluru with the required facilities.

Ahead of the Assembly polls, the scam came in handy for the Congress to strengthen its corruption narrative against the BJP. Congress leaders had alleged the involvement of BJP leaders in the scam.