CID Arrests Basavaraj Kannale in KPSC Veterinary Recruitment Scam as Political Row Deepens

The Karnataka Crime Investigation Department arrested Basavaraj Kannale, an alleged middleman, in connection with reported irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission examination for 400 veterinary officer posts, according to police bulletins. Kannale was detained at the New Delhi airport on Sunday, August 30, 2026, as he was reportedly attempting to flee to Uzbekistan, and was subsequently arrested. He was expected to appear in a Bengaluru court on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

## Investigation and Alleged Malpractices

Kannale, a native of Bhalki in Bidar, Karnataka, is alleged to have been part of a conspiracy where low-scoring candidates in the veterinary entrance exam conducted in January 2026 were offered recruitment for ₹80 lakh, with ₹40 lakh to be paid in advance, per CID findings. Investigations suggest he sold leaked question papers for ₹40 lakh each.

Kannale serves as a syndicate member of Tumkur University and has been linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bidar through social media photographs with party leaders, according to investigation records. This arrest follows the August 29, 2026, arrest of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who served as the Controller of Examinations at KPSC from February 2024 to March 2026, the period when the alleged scam occurred. Gangwar was remanded to CID custody until September 10, per judicial orders. The scam involves alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 400 veterinary officers, including question paper leaks, OMR sheet tampering, and leakage of confidential candidate information.

## Political Fallout and Denials

The alleged scam is the latest in a series of controversies involving major recruitment processes conducted by the KPSC in recent years, per historical administrative records. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, a Janata Dal Secular leader, has criticized the Karnataka government and Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging irregularities in KPSC recruitment during Kharge's previous tenure as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister.

In response to political accusations linking Kannale to the opposition, Bhagwanth Khuba, BJP Bidar unit leader, stated, 'Basavaraj Kannale is not a BJP worker and is not associated with the party in any way.'

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge challenged the allegations, stating, 'If my involvement is proven, I am ready to forgo politics entirely.' BJP leaders, including Bhagwanth Khuba and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, deny Basavaraj Kannale's official association with the party and dismiss social media photos as proof of involvement in the scam. The exact nature and extent of Basavaraj Kannale's official association with the BJP beyond social media photos remain disputed, while the full details of the allegations are under ongoing investigation by the Karnataka CID.