Enforcement Directorate Raids Karnataka IAS Officer in KPSC Case

In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the residences of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in Bengaluru and Bareilly on Sunday. The raids are linked to alleged irregularities involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

Gangwar, who belongs to the 2016 batch of Karnataka cadre, has become the first senior bureaucrat to be targeted in connection with this case. ED officials arrived at his residence in Bengaluru's Jayamahal Road in the afternoon, accompanied by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Initial entry to the premises was delayed by security personnel, who insisted on waiting for specific instructions from Gangwar.

Reports indicate that the officials waited for approximately two hours before they were permitted access via a phone call made by Gangwar. Upon entry, investigators encountered a locked door, which required the services of a local locksmith to open.

In conjunction with the Bengaluru searches, Gangwar's house in Bareilly was also subjected to scrutiny, although reports do not confirm his presence there at the time. The ED has not publicly disclosed whether it has gathered preliminary evidence to warrant these investigations.

Prior to this incident, Gangwar served as the Controller of Examination at KPSC from February 2024 until March 2026. He transitioned to the position of Director in MSME in June 2026. The KPSC has faced allegations regarding its oversight of competitive examinations for state government jobs, particularly concerning the Veterinary Officers’ Recruitment Exam. Reports suggest that certain intermediaries solicited bribes ranging from ₹70 lakh to ₹80 lakh for securing candidate selections.

The state police have registered several First Information Reports (FIRs) related to these allegations. On August 18, the ED executed searches at 21 locations associated with the KPSC, including the chairman's residence, various members’ homes, and the offices of Edutest Solutions Pvt Ltd, the company responsible for the digital evaluation of examination papers.

Following these investigations, it was reported that Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar became untraceable after booking a last-minute flight from Bengaluru to Delhi on August 20. The flight cost ₹30,200, and he was not reachable upon landing. However, Karnataka’s Home Minister Priyank Kharge later stated that Gangwar had returned home due to a family emergency.

As of now, the ED has not disclosed further details pertaining to the seizures made during the raids or the status of any arrests in relation to this high-profile case. The ongoing investigations reflect the broader challenges of ensuring transparency and integrity within public service recruitment in India.