Thiruvananthapuram, 28 Oct (H.S.): The Crime Branch has arrested former Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) deputy secretary P. Satheesh in connection with alleged irregularities in an examination for recruitment to the Planning Board, marking the first arrest in the case.

The arrest came ahead of the PSC chairman’s scheduled appearance for questioning in the same case. The chairman was due to appear before investigators on the day Satheesh was arrested.

A special Crime Branch team reached Satheesh’s residence and took him into custody before formally recording his arrest. Investigators had previously summoned and questioned him twice in connection with the alleged examination irregularities.

Satheesh is one of two officials named as accused in the case. The other is additional secretary Hari. The case centres on allegations that the examination evaluation process was improperly handled to help a particular candidate secure an appointment.

According to the allegations under investigation, questions carrying a total of 54 marks were not evaluated properly. The alleged lapses are linked to actions intended to facilitate the appointment of one candidate through unlawful means.

Satheesh was named as an accused on the allegation that he led the unlawful activities associated with the evaluation. His alleged role as an official involved in the process forms the basis of the case against him.

The arrest followed the two earlier rounds of questioning, during which the Crime Branch had called him in to examine his involvement. The special team subsequently went to his home and took him into custody.

The developments bring the handling of the recruitment examination into focus, with the alleged failure to properly evaluate questions worth 54 marks at the centre of the investigation. The case concerns both the conduct of the evaluation and the allegation that official actions were directed towards securing an appointment for a particular candidate through that disputed recruitment process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman