Karnataka Govt Moves SC Against HC-Ordered SIT Probe into KPSC Irregularities

Bengaluru, Sept 27 : The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order directing a fresh Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers through the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

In its plea, the State government contended that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had already completed around 80 per cent of its investigation and that the High Court had not identified specific shortcomings in the ongoing probe before ordering a fresh investigation by the SIT.

The government also submitted that developments in the CID investigation after August 24 were not taken into consideration by the High Court and sought continuation of the existing probe.

The Karnataka High Court, on September 21, had ordered the constitution of a five-member SIT headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar to conduct a fresh investigation into the alleged KPSC irregularities. The court directed the CID to hand over all case records to the SIT within a week and instructed the team to complete the investigation within 100 days.

The SIT has also been directed to submit progress reports to the High Court every 30 days. The court further asked the SIT to coordinate with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel investigation.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 Veterinary Officers through the KPSC.

Meanwhile, days after the High Court ordered the SIT probe, the State government transferred IPS officer Kushal Chouksey, who had been named as one of the members of the investigation team. Chouksey was transferred from DCP (Administration), Bengaluru, to Superintendent of Police, Chitradurga.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had defended the State government's authority over the appointment and transfer of officials, stating that such appointments were the prerogative of the government.

"I don't know how they (High Court) can interfere. There are several directives and legal provisions concerning the appointment of officers. I will examine that legally," he had told reporters.

The SIT headed by Alok Kumar comprises IPS officers Divya V Gopinath, Anup A Shetty, Kushal Chouksey and Kshama Mishra.

The State's Supreme Court challenge comes against the backdrop of the High Court's decision to replace the ongoing CID probe with a fresh SIT investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities.