Kerala PSC Members Face Crime Branch Questioning Over Exam Fraud Allegations

Three members of the Kerala Public Service Commission appeared before the Crime Branch on Monday for questioning about exam fraud. S. Sreekumar, S.A. Saif, and Stany Thomas faced questions from a team led by Special Investigation Team chief Inspector General S. Ajeetha Begum. Two more commission members must appear before the team on Tuesday. Commission chairperson M.R. Baiju received a notice to visit the Crime Branch headquarters on Wednesday. The commission earlier told the Crime Branch it could not appear for questioning because of rules that protect the constitutional body. The Kerala High Court rejected the commission's stance after the body challenged the police notice.

Complaints

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan told the Kerala Assembly on Monday that exam irregularities have led to 188 complaints. The State Police Chief received 180 of these complaints. The Home Department took three complaints for Crime Branch probes after the Personnel and Administrative Reforms department forwarded them. The internal vigilance wing of the commission received five complaints for its own inquiry. The Chief Minister's Office is still getting more complaints through its official portal. A full police probe is checking if the chairperson and members took part in test issues and evaluation problems.

Context

The Kerala Public Service Commission is the body that selects candidates for civil service jobs in the state government. High-level inquiries into recruitment boards usually happen when candidates or leaders raise serious doubts about fairness in tests and interviews. State bodies work under specific rules, but police forces can investigate criminal allegations when fraud is suspected.