LUCKNOW: In a major step in the investigation into the 2014 recruitment irregularities in the Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department, the Economic Offences Wing on Wednesday arrested former Principal Secretary Yogesh Kumar from his Gomti Nagar residence in Lucknow. The case relates to the selection process for 1,198 Livestock Extension Officer posts conducted during the Samajwadi Party administration, which was allegedly marked by the breach of established service rules, tampering with Optical Mark Recognition answer sheets, and extending unlawful benefits to ineligible candidates. Investigators have brought the role of several senior figures under review, including the then departmental minister Rajkishore Singh, against whom an official request for prosecution sanction remains pending with the state government.
Recruitment framework altered from divisional units to headquarters
The recruitment drive commenced in 2014 to fill 1,198 vacancies spread across 17 administrative divisions of the state, excluding Saharanpur. The written test took place on February 2, 2014, and the final selections were wrapped up by June that year. Shortly after the process concluded, serious grievances arose over non-compliance with statutory procedures. Inquiries revealed that the recruitment was shifted from the designated divisional selection committees to the headquarters level, a decision reportedly approved on official files bearing the signatures of both the departmental minister and the Principal Secretary. Furthermore, Kumar retired from government service on June 30, 2014, directly following the completion of the recruitment exercise.
Special Investigation Team inquiry and criminal charges
Following widespread complaints concerning arbitrary evaluations and improper appointments, the state government entrusted the matter to a Special Investigation Team in 2017. The preliminary findings established that the evaluation of OMR sheets had been assigned to the Feroze Gandhi Institute in Rae Bareli, an act carried out contrary to the statutory authority granted to divisional panels. Consequently, a formal criminal case was registered in 2019 against six individuals, including former Livestock Director Rudra Pratap Singh, invoking charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. As the scope of the inquiry broadened, agencies identified 28 individuals connected to the irregularities, leading to the submission of charge sheets against 25 accused before the competent court.
Government decision awaited on prosecution sanction against former minister
Parallel proceedings against the former minister Rajkishore Singh now hinge on administrative approval. The Economic Offences Wing submitted a proposal to initiate criminal proceedings against Singh, which has been under review at the state government level. Investigators issued a reminder roughly two months ago seeking an expedited decision on the matter, as statutory sanction remains a prerequisite before taking judicial steps against public representatives in matters related to official duties. With Kumar taken into custody, the investigating agency is moving ahead with subsequent legal proceedings to fix responsibility for the administrative lapses and procedural tampering that compromised the recruitment drive.
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