PSI scam: Why recruitment without probe? asks Kharge jr

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Congress MLA from Chittapur and former minister Priyank Kharge once again raked up the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment, claiming that state Home Minister Araga Jnanedra was trying to cover up powerful people involved in the irregularities, firing off several questions to the BJP-led state government in the process.

Kharge expressed dismay about the newest audio recording doing the rounds, which is purportedly a conversation between Jnanendra and a candidate. Moreover, he wondered aloud why recruitment was taking place for 402 of the total 545 posts, which had been disputed. He pointed out that an investigation was due for these seats.

“The Home Minister said that they had submitted evidence regarding 402 seats to the CID. Why then is the recruitment process continuing without the investigation really being completed?” Kharge asked, adding that there were irregularities in the physical examination, particularly question paper 1 which wasn’t being investigated. He pressed the state government as to why the accused had been let go on bail.

“We gave evidence about DG, IG of Kalaburgi. Why then is the investigation limited to Amrit Paul? Should we take their silence as a confession?” Kharge asked. He said that there had been no action taken against lawmakers who were accused of wrongdoing in the scam.

BJP MLA Baavaraj Dadesugur is one of the lawmakers who has been accused by the father of an aspirant. “When we asked them why there had been no investigation against three MLAs who had been subject to three complaints, they merely said no witnesses had come forward to testify.

Who are these three MLAs? Are they from BJP, JD(S) or Congress? Disclose this information. This wasn’t discussed in the session,” Kharge said. He rounded up his arguments by reiterating his party line that there should be a judicial investigation into PSI recruitment to ensure a free and fair investigation.