'It's Daylight Fraud If True': Karnataka High Court In Plea For CBI Probe Into Alleged KPSC Veterinary Officer Recruitment Scam

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (July 29) sought the State Government's response on a plea seeking transfer of the investigation into the alleged Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Veterinary Officer (Group A) recruitment scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

During the hearing, Justice M Nagaprasanna orally remarked that if the allegations levelled by the petitioners were true, the recruitment process amounted to "daylight fraud."

The Court directed the State Public Prosecutor to explain why the investigation, presently entrusted to the Crime Investigation Department (CID), should not be transferred to the CBI. The Court also directed the State to place the investigation records before it on the next date of hearing, August 7.

The petition has been filed by an unsuccessful candidate seeking transfer of the investigation in the FIR registered at Vidhana Soudha Police Station on July 24, 2026, alleging large-scale corruption in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers by the KPSC. The Court also heard other similarly placed candidates.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that despite an earlier warning by the High Court against transferring the investigation, the State had entrusted two KPSC-related cases to the CID. The petitioners contended that past investigations by the CID had failed to effectively prosecute those responsible in similar matters and sought a CBI probe instead.

The petitioners further alleged that middlemen acting on behalf of the former KPSC Chairman and members demanded ₹80 lakh per post. ₹40 lakh was allegedly collected before candidates were taken outside Karnataka for training with question papers and answers, while the balance amount was allegedly collected after selection, with original marksheets retained as security.

It was also alleged that middlemen had access to confidential candidate details, including addresses and phone numbers, which were supposed to be available only to KPSC officials. The petitioners further referred to a candidate allegedly related to the suspended KPSC Chairman Shivashankarappa, claiming that the candidate secured unusually high marks despite an average academic record.

Referring to these allegations, the Court orally remarked:

"What they are saying, what if it's correct? It's daylight fraud."

The State Public Prosecutor responded that the CID was carrying out the investigation and assured the Court that it would not hesitate to conduct a thorough probe or place any record before the Court.

Justice Nagaprasanna also questioned how such large-scale manipulation could have occurred without the involvement of KPSC officials.

"Without the connivance of officials in KPSC, how can any candidate get 400 marks? They [successful candidates] are beneficiaries, they will face the music, but how are the officials being tackled? That I want to monitor," the Court orally observed.

Case Title: Dr. Manjunath v. State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No.: WP No. 23448/2026 (GM-RES-528-529)