Crime Branch Nabs PSC Additional Secretary Hari in Exam Irregularities Case

The Crime Branch on Friday apprehended R. Hari, an additional secretary with the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), in connection with alleged irregularities in an examination conducted for the State Planning Board. Hari was reportedly nabbed from a relative’s house in Ernakulam, having been on the run since the arrest of P. Satheesh, a former deputy secretary of the PSC, two days prior. Both Hari and Satheesh were allegedly in charge of the evaluation process for the controversial examination. The government has since suspended Mr. Hari from service pending inquiry, while the retirement benefits of Mr. Satheesh have been withheld.

According to the Crime Branch’s remand report filed for Mr. Satheesh, the case involves "deliberate manipulation" in the PSC examination. The report alleges these irregularities were carried out with the knowledge and involvement of officials, including Mr. Satheesh and Mr. Hari. Police further allege that 10 questions were intentionally excluded from the evaluation process, and the online evaluation camp was subsequently closed without restoring them. Investigators suspect this deliberate withholding was intended to alter candidate rankings and secure appointments for certain favored individuals.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has expanded its probe, issuing notice to the PSC secretary to appear for questioning. The Controller of Examinations will also be summoned to seek clarification on the alleged involvement of PSC chairperson M.R. Baiju and the accused officials. The SIT plans to question the remaining 10 PSC members, issuing notices for their appearance, and is seeking to clarify alleged inconsistencies in statements given by Mr. Baiju during earlier questioning. Mr. Baiju reportedly maintained that the commission committed no errors in the Planning Board examination, attributing irregularities to technical errors by officials.

To speed up the investigation, the SIT has been expanded with the addition of two Superintendents of Police and one Deputy Superintendent of Police. Three newly registered cases related to the probe have been assigned to these investigating officers as part of the intensified effort.

What to watch: Further questioning of PSC officials and the progress of the expanded SIT investigation.

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