A day after IAS officer and MSME Director Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar was traced to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh after being out of contact for nearly two days, Directorate of Enforcement (ED) officials, on Sunday (August 23, 2026), reportedly arrived at his residential premises in Bengaluru in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in KPSC recruitment.
Karnataka IAS officer said to be missing had gone on leave, traced Mr.
Gangwar had served as the Controller of Examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) when the veterinary officer recruitment examination was conducted.
The recruitment process has come under the ED's scanner following allegations of large-scale irregularities and claims that candidates were asked to pay huge sums of money.
The ED had earlier conducted searches at several locations in connection with the case, including the residence of former KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa Sahukar and premises linked to veterinary officers.
Officials are also investigating allegations that candidates were asked to pay between ₹70 lakh and ₹80 lakh for securing appointments.
On Sunday, an ED team reached Mr.
Gangwar’s apartment in Bengaluru in three vehicles, accompanied by CRPF personnel.
Security personnel initially locked the apartment gate and told the officials that they were instructed not to allow anyone inside.
The officials reportedly spent nearly two hours at the premises, attempting to gain access to the apartment.
However, the officials allegedly found the residence locked, and Mr.
Gangwar was not present.
His phone was said to be switched off.
The ED team subsequently called a locksmith to the premises to prepare a duplicate key to open the apartment.
The officials also arranged for a neighbour to be present as a witness while the door was being opened.
The developments come shortly after Mr.
Gangwar’s brief absence from Bengaluru sparked speculation amid the ED investigation.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said that the IAS officer had travelled to Uttar Pradesh to meet his ailing father and that his absence was linked to a family emergency.
While Mr.
Gangwar’s role as Controller of Examinations has brought him under the ED’s scrutiny, there is no confirmed information establishing that he himself has been accused of accepting bribes or participating in the alleged recruitment scam.
The allegations remain part of the ongoing investigation, sources said.
