THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch Special Investigation Team probing alleged irregularities in Kerala Public Service Commission recruitment examinations has widened its net, registering three fresh cases over tests conducted between 2019 and 2023. The latest inquiry focuses on selections for the posts of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector, Fisheries Officer, and Khadi Board Inspector, amid concerns that confidential details were leaked to handpicked candidates in collusion with commission officials. The development comes as the team initiated action against Additional Secretary Hari and Deputy Secretary Satheesh over separate recruitment irregularities linked to the Kerala State Planning Board, seeking government sanction to prosecute both officials alongside recommendations for departmental proceedings.
Guidebook questions spark concern in AMVI test
A major focus of the expanding probe centers on the Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector examination, where preliminary findings revealed that 47 out of 100 questions were taken directly from a single guidebook. Investigators suspect that favored applicants may have received prior notification about the book, enabling them to study the exact material ahead of the examination. The inquiry is currently assessing whether this selection of questions was a coincidence or the result of a deliberate leak orchestrated by insiders to give specific candidates an unfair edge over other applicants.
Selection of official relative under scrutiny in Khadi Board
The recruitment process for the post of Inspector in the Khadi Board has similarly drawn scrutiny after records revealed that only one candidate was appointed through the examination. Crime Branch officials found that this individual was a close relative of a senior commission official, raising questions over possible nepotism and procedural favoritism. While investigators maintain that a familial connection alone does not constitute proof of guilt, the team is actively reviewing whether established norms were compromised to facilitate the appointment.
High proportion of university candidates marks Fisheries test
Suspicion has also mounted over the Fisheries Officer examination, where 38 of the 42 appointed candidates were associated with the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies. The question paper had been prepared by faculty members from the same institution, prompting the Crime Branch vigilance wing to investigate potential collusion between university staff and recruitment officials. With the investigation now spanning multiple recruitment drives, authorities are working to verify whether these cases point to a wider pattern of institutional malpractice within the state selection framework.
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