Thiruvananthapuram, 25 Oct (H.S.):

The Crime Branch has widened its investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities at the Kerala Public Service Commission after a Special Investigation Team identified suspected lapses involving examinations and appointments to three more posts.

The findings concern the recruitment of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors, Fisheries Extension Officers and a Village Oil Inspector in the Khadi Board. They follow the investigation into alleged irregularities in the Planning Board chief examination.

The SIT, headed by Inspector General Ajeetha Begum, will submit its preliminary report to Crime Branch Additional Director General of Police H. Venkatesh later this week. Separate cases are to be registered in connection with the three recruitment processes, with PSC officials also expected to be named as accused.

In the Village Oil Inspector recruitment notified in 2019, investigators found that only one candidate attended the interview. The prescribed qualifications were a BSc degree and a certificate showing completion of a three-month course conducted by the Khadi Board.

However, the woman appointed in 2021 allegedly submitted a certificate for a course lasting only 15 days. Investigators are also examining allegations that she is related to a PSC official.

The 2020 Fisheries Extension Officer recruitment has come under scrutiny over the concentration of candidates from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, or KUFOS.

Of the 110 candidates on the rank list, 93 were KUFOS students. Among the 42 candidates appointed, 38 came from the university. Senior university officials and faculty members were reportedly involved in both the interview board and question-paper preparation, raising concerns about the recruitment process.

In the 2023 Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector examination, investigators found that 47 of the 100 questions in the OMR paper had allegedly been copied from an online guide.

The report will outline the SIT’s preliminary findings for further action by the Crime Branch.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman