Crime Branch nabs PSC additional secretary R. Hari in examination irregularities case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM The Crime Branch on Friday nabbed Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) additional secretary R. Hari, an accused in the case pertaining to the alleged irregularities in an examination conducted for the State Planning Board. The accused was reportedly apprehended from a relative’s house in Ernakulam. He had been on the run since the arrest of another accused, P.

Satheesh, a former deputy secretary of the PSC, two days ago. Both the accused were allegedly in charge of the evaluation process of the controversial examination. The government had suspended Mr. Hari from service, pending inquiry, while the retirement benefits of the other accused have been withheld. ‘Deliberate manipulation’ Meanwhile, Mr. Satheesh’s remand report filed by the Crime Branch has alleged deliberate manipulation in the PSC examination.

According to the report, the irregularities were purportedly carried out with the knowledge and involvement of officials, including Mr. Satheesh and Mr. Hari. The police allege that 10 questions were intentionally excluded from the evaluation process and that the online evaluation camp was subsequently closed without restoring those questions. The investigators suspect that the questions were deliberately withheld because their evaluation could have changed the ranking of candidates and prevented certain favoured persons from securing appointments.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has issued notice to the PSC secretary to appear for questioning in connection with the case. The Controller of Examinations will also be summoned to seek clarification on the alleged involvement of PSC chairperson M.R. Baiju and the accused officials in the case. Notices to 10 PSC members The SIT has also decided to question the remaining PSC members as part of the investigation.

Notices will be issued to 10 PSC members directing them to appear for questioning. The investigation team has sought to clarify alleged inconsistencies in the statements given by Mr. Baiju during questioning a few days ago. He reportedly maintained that the commission had not committed any errors in the Planning Board examination and that the irregularities resulted from technical errors committed by officials.

The SIT has also been expanded to speed up the investigation. Two Superintendents of Police and one Deputy Superintendent of Police have been added to the team. The three newly registered cases have been assigned to the investigating officers as part of the expanded probe.