Three Kerala PSC members appear before Crime Branch for questioning in exam fraud probe

Three members of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), appeared before the Crime Branch on Monday in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in a Kerala State Planning Board recruitment examination.

The members, S. Sreekumar, S.A. Saif and Stany Thomas, appeared for detailed questioning conducted under the leadership of the Special Investigation Team chief Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum.

Two more PSC members have been directed to appear before the investigating team on Tuesday.

PSC chairperson M.R. Baiju has also been summoned by the Crime Branch and asked to appear at its headquarters on Wednesday. A notice has served to him in this regard.

PSC’s stance

Earlier, the PSC had informed the Crime Branch that it would not be able to appear for questioning at the Crime Branch headquarters, citing the rules and protocol governing the constitutional body. While it also approached the Kerala High Court challenging the Crime Branch notice, the court did not accept the commission’s stance.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan informed the Keralam Assembly on Monday that the alleged irregularities in the Kerala PSC, including those concerning examinations, interviews and evaluation of answer scripts, have paved the way for 188 complaints thus far.

Among these, as many as 180 complaints have been received by the State Police Chief, while three complaints were received by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms department and forwarded to the Home department for Crime Branch probes. Five complaints had been referred to the PSC for inquiry by its internal vigilance wing.

He added that the Chief Minister’s Office continues to receive more complaints through its official portal.

According to the Chief Minister, a comprehensive probe is under way into allegations raised in the complaints, including the possible involvement of the PSC chairperson and members in the alleged irregularities and issues concerning the conduct of examinations.