Case file · KSP-RC · surfaced 9 Apr 2022

Karnataka PSI scam: ADGP heading recruitment arrested

Stalled documented status: Charge sheet filed

Confidence C — based on the press record (archived below). No primary documents on file yet; treat names of agencies, dates and figures as reported, not established.

The October 2021 exam to select 545 Karnataka police sub-inspectors (54,287 candidates) was rigged through Bluetooth-aided answer relays and OMR tampering, surfacing in April 2022 after a Kalaburagi candidate's marks didn't match her sheet. The CID arrested more than 15 police personnel, and on 4 July 2022 arrested the ADGP who headed the recruitment cell — charge-sheeted with prosecution sanction under the PC Act, and bailed in September 2023. The government ordered a re-examination.

Examination: Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment (Oct 2021)
Conducting body: Karnataka Police Recruitment Cell (KSP-RC)
Exam date: 3 Oct 2021
Leak date (as documented): 3 Oct 2021
Surfaced: 9 Apr 2022
States: Karnataka
Candidates affected: ~54,287
Leak vector: Exam centre
State govt at the time: BJP
Last reviewed: 11 Jun 2026

Stall clock — no docket movement for

990

days (2y 260d) · last movement 2023-09-25

Accountability Gap Index

national average 0.97 / 7 · how this is scored →

0 / 7

✗ FIR within 30 days
✗ Charge sheet within 180 days
✗ Any conviction
✗ Exam cancelled & fully re-held
✗ Fee refund documented
✗ Official permanently removed
✗ Reform gazette-notified

Each milestone scores one point only when the register holds a document for it. The gap is what the missing points describe.

How it surfaced

Who found it

Candidates reported it

A re-evaluation dispute exposed an OMR with blank answers scoring top marks in Kalaburagi; the CID probe found OMRs had been doctored after the exam and papers sold via Bluetooth devices.

The conducting body's first response

Denied it

The recruitment cell defended the list until the CID arrested its own head — the ADGP in charge of recruitment — in July 2022; the entire exam was re-held in 2024.

The docket

Every legal action on record, in order. Each row cites its document.

9 Apr 2022

FIR registered · CID, Karnataka Police

Cases registered after OMR mismatch complaints; exam-centre and recruitment-cell links probed.

per: Karnataka PSI scam: ADGP arrest, explained (The Indian Express, 6 Jul 2022)
20 Apr 2022

Arrest · CID, Karnataka

15+ police personnel and centre operators arrested over the following months.

per: Karnataka PSI scam: ADGP arrest, explained (The Indian Express, 6 Jul 2022)
4 Jul 2022

Arrest · CID, Karnataka

ADGP heading the recruitment cell arrested on corruption, cheating and conspiracy charges.

per: Karnataka High Court grants bail to IPS officer arrested in police recruitment scam (The Indian Express, 25 Sept 2023)
15 Dec 2022

Charge sheet filed · CID, Karnataka

Charge sheet filed; central prosecution sanction under the PC Act later obtained.

per: Karnataka High Court grants bail to IPS officer arrested in police recruitment scam (The Indian Express, 25 Sept 2023)
25 Sept 2023

Bail granted · Karnataka High Court

Bail to the IPS officer with conditions against intimidating junior investigators.

per: Karnataka High Court grants bail to IPS officer arrested in police recruitment scam (The Indian Express, 25 Sept 2023)

What candidates got

Outcome	Ordered by	Order date	Detail
Exam cancelled (full)	Government of Karnataka	29 Apr 2022	Re-examination ordered for the PSI recruitment.

Officials & institutions implicated

Recorded at position level. A personal name appears only in the "Named individuals" table below, behind the naming gate.

Arrested

ADGP (Recruitment), Karnataka Police · 4 Jul 2022

The seniormost serving police officer arrested in a recruitment-exam case in this register.
Arrested

DySP and staff, recruitment cell · 8 Jul 2022

After the suspension

Suspension is where most coverage ends. This is what the record says happened next — tracking rules →

⚑ ADGP (Recruitment), Karnataka Police

Suspended — no dismissal recorded · 4 Jul 2022

Arrested and suspended the same night in July 2022; got bail, and in September 2025 the High Court refused to quash the case, citing a strong prima facie case. No dismissal order has been published.

per: Arrest and suspension 04.07.2022; Karnataka HC order 18.09.2025

⚑ marks an official who returned to, or never left, the ministry whose exam leaked.

The investigation trail

Every SIT, committee and inquiry announced for this case — and whether its report ever became public.

CID probe (recruitment cell cases)

Formed 29 Apr 2022 · by Government of Karnataka

Report status: not made public · 1,504 days elapsed

CID charge sheets cover the ADGP and dozens of accused; no consolidated report published.

Sources on file

Tier 2 · reported Karnataka High Court grants bail to IPS officer arrested in police recruitment scam — The Indian Express · 25 Sept 2023 [archived]
Tier 2 · reported Karnataka PSI scam: ADGP arrest, explained — The Indian Express · 6 Jul 2022 [archived]

Status log

Every status this register has ever assigned to this case. Append-only.

9 Apr 2022	ALLEGED	Allegations surfaced publicly.
9 Apr 2022	ALLEGED → FIR_REGISTERED	Cases registered after OMR mismatch complaints; exam-centre and recruitment-cell links probed.
20 Apr 2022	FIR_REGISTERED → ARRESTS_MADE	15+ police personnel and centre operators arrested over the following months.
15 Dec 2022	ARRESTS_MADE → CHARGESHEET_FILED	Charge sheet filed; central prosecution sanction under the PC Act later obtained.

Act on this record

File an RTI on this case pre-filled from the docket · RTI Act 2005 · ₹10 fee

The application below is pre-filled from this case file. Add your name and address, then send it to the Public Information Officer of CID, Karnataka Police — online via rtionline.gov.in (central bodies) or your state RTI portal.

To: The Public Information Officer,
CID, Karnataka Police

Subject: Request under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Karnataka PSI scam: ADGP heading recruitment arrested

Under the Right to Information Act 2005, I request the following information:

1. Current status of FIR No. [number] dated 9 Apr 2022 concerning the question paper leak in Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment (Oct 2021).
2. Whether a charge sheet has been filed in this matter; if yes, its date and the court where it was filed.
3. Names and current postings of all officials suspended in connection with this matter.
4. Whether any suspended official has been reinstated; if yes, the order reference and date.
5. Date and outcome of the last court hearing in this matter.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 as required. If this application falls outside your office's purview, kindly transfer it under Section 6(3) of the Act and inform me.

Regards,
[Applicant name]
[Address]
[Date]

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