The Enforcement Directorate has written to the Karnataka governor and the Lokayukta seeking registration of an FIR (first information report) and independent probe into “systematic rigging” of a 2023 recruitment process in the Kolar-Chikkaballapur District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (KOMUL) led by a Congress MLA under investigation in a money laundering case.
Official sources said alleged ‘cash-for-jobs’ racket was unearthed by the federal agency during searches conducted by it in January against KY Nanjegowda, a Congress MLA from Malur seat in Kolar district, and his associates.
They were raided as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged illegal allotment of government land worth Rs 150 crore to ineligible persons.
The alleged recruitment scam pertains to September, 2023 when KOMUL announced hiring for 81 positions through a written test conducted by the Mangalore University.
The agency, after the January searches against the Congress MLA, had issued an official statement claiming it unearthed a “scam” in a recruitment exercise of the KOMUL.
“It was noticed that recruitment committee of KOMUL chaired by KY Nanje Gowda and four other members completely manipulated the interview process. According to the board decision, orders were issued to the selected candidates and they were sent to training without making the final result public,” the agency had said.
As per KOMUL, it is Karnataka’s second highest milk producing district organisation.
The ED in its report sent to the governor and the Lokayukta has alleged that the then Mangalore University registrar (evaluation), who was in-charge of the written examination, “did not follow” the prescribed procedure of taking approvals from the Vice Chancellor for conducting the exam, outsourcing of printing and evaluation work, selection of exam centres, safety of OMR sheets and confidentiality of results among others.
It claimed in its report that the VC of the Mangalore University “acknowledged” the “gross misconduct” done by the registrar (evaluation) in “manipulating” this KOMUL recruitment process as he (VC) wrote to state government authorities urging them to take cognisance of these irregularities.
“Evidence gathered during the investigation found the sale of seats in lieu of money and accommodation of candidates referred by certain politicians allegedly in lieu of money by manipulating their marks over the deserving candidates who were awarded poor marks,” the ED said.
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