Bengaluru court extends IAS officer Gangwar’s ED custody by 8 days

A Bengaluru court on Saturday extended the Enforcement Directorate's custody of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar by eight days in connection with the KPSC recruitment scam. The ED had sought the extension, submitting that its investigation uncovered information beyond the Criminal Investigation Department's findings in the veterinary officers' recruitment exam irregularities. The agency also informed the court that it suspects irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations and wants to investigate the money trail.

The court had earlier rejected Gangwar's bail plea, citing prima facie evidence of a money trail and communication links. The ED alleged that Basavaraj Kannale, described as a key suspect and Gangwar's associate, told investigators that candidates paid up to Rs 1.5 crore, of which Rs 1.3 crore was handed to Gangwar in cash. The ED also alleged that Gangwar provided Kannale with question papers on a pen drive two days before the exam. The CID probe earlier found that 60-80 questions were leaked and five candidates were given practice answering them. The CID also told the court that bribes were used to buy Rs 52 lakh worth of jewellery for Gangwar's girlfriend.