Senior Karnataka IPS officer Amrit Paul arrested

According to highly placed police sources, an ADGP-rank officer was arrested by the Karnataka Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Monday, July 4, in connection with the police sub-inspector recruitment scam. Amrit Paul, the arrested IPS officer, was the head of the recruitment cell when the scam was discovered in April of this year. Following reports of widespread irregularities, he was transferred to the position of ADGP, Internal Security Division. The Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets of the fraudulent candidates were allegedly tampered with in the recruitment division itself, according to top sources. They also claimed that Paul was aware of what was going on.

According to sources, the ADGP was arrested after being questioned at least four times by police. “He was taken to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital (AB Vajpayee MC&RI) for medical examination after his arrest,” a police official said.

The scam was discovered in Kalaburagi district when a candidate’s OMR sheet was posted on social media, showing that despite answering only 21 out of 100 questions, he passed the exam. The manner in which the exam was conducted sparked public outrage. The police investigated the situation and charged both the candidate and the person who posted it.

The investigation also resulted in the arrest of Divya Hagaragi, the owner of ‘Gnana Jyothi English Medium School’ in Kalaburagi, as well as the college principal Kashinath and other staff.

A deputy superintendent of police, an inspector, a sub-inspector, constables, and the gunman of an MLA were also arrested. A candidate from Malleshwaram, allegedly a relative of a senior politician, is also said to have been arrested in this case.

So far, 70 people have been arrested in this case, including 40’selected’ candidates, agents, exam centre staff, and police officers, according to sources. The suspected scam candidates allegedly paid Rs 70 lakh each to get a job.

The PSI recruitment drive began in October 2021 with the goal of filling 545 positions, and 54,041 people took the exam.

Following the revelation of the scam, the government cancelled the PSI recruitment exam and ordered that it be re-conducted. Outraged by this move, a few candidates staged protests calling for the cancellation of the order that cancelled the exam.

However, the government stood firm and stated that the exam would be retaken later. While the opposition accused the government of involving high-profile individuals, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra stated, “A fair investigation will be conducted sparing none, however high and mighty they are.”

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