The Karnataka High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into alleged irregularities in recruitment conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), while state Minister Priyank Kharge has questioned the need for a separate investigation when the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is already examining the matter.
Reacting to the High Court’s direction, Kharge said the government was reviewing the order from a legal standpoint before deciding its next course of action.
“In my personal opinion, the order that has come up asking us to form a SIT when a CID inquiry is going on is not in the best interest of the investigation,” Kharge said.
The minister defended the ongoing CID probe and said the investigation had not suffered from any lapses so far. He also pointed out that much of the information that has emerged publicly about the case has come through the CID investigation.
“There have been no lapses from the CID, and all the information that is publicly available is because of the investigation of the CID,” he said.
Kharge further said that no one had raised a specific complaint about shortcomings in the CID inquiry. “Nobody has complained that there are lapses even in the CID investigation. We are examining it legally, and we will take a call,” he added.
High Court orders SIT probe into KPSC allegations
The High Court’s decision to set up an SIT comes amid allegations of irregularities in the KPSC recruitment process. The move is expected to bring another layer of scrutiny to the ongoing investigation.
The government is now examining the legal implications of the court’s order and is expected to decide how the SIT direction will be implemented while the existing CID investigation continues.
Priyank Kharge reacts to BJP protest
Kharge also responded to a protest by the BJP over the issue of funds from the Centre. He said he agreed with the opposition’s demand concerning financial assistance, particularly in relation to funds that the state government says it is entitled to receive.
“I agree with them. There is no fund that is received from the central government,” Kharge said.
He referred to the state’s previous efforts to secure assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), saying Karnataka had sought funds last year as well.
“Last year also, when we asked for funds from NDRF, which was constitutionally and legally supposed to be given, they did not give. We had to go to the Supreme Court,” he said.
The comments come as the Karnataka government faces questions on two separate fronts — the handling of the KPSC recruitment investigation and its continuing dispute with the Centre over financial assistance.
