Kozhikode: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged irregularities in a Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitment examination has made its first arrest, taking former deputy secretary P. Satheesh into custody from Kozhikode on Wednesday, The Indian Messenger reported.

Source: The Indian Messenger

Satheesh was arrested in connection with the recruitment examination conducted for the State Planning Board. He had been formally named as an accused in the case earlier this week, News4Exchange also reported in its account of the arrest.

Source: News4Exchange

Satheesh, who retired from service last year, held charge of the PSC's examination wing and oversaw the on-screen digital marking system during the evaluation of the contested examination, according to the reports. The allegations against him have not been proved, and the investigation is continuing.

The arrest came a day after the Kerala government told the High Court that the investigation was progressing vigorously and opposed the PSC's plea to quash the FIR against its staff members over the Planning Board examination. Live Law reported that the matter came up before Justice A. Badharudeen on Tuesday, with Director General of Prosecution T. A. Asaf Ali appearing for the state.

Source: Live Law

Live Law also reported that the PSC had suspended Additional Secretary R. Hari, of the examination wing, after he was named as an accused, and that action had also been taken against Satheesh. It said the original complaint, by Jayalal V. S., who approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, had pointed out that 10 questions in the recruitment examination were not evaluated.

Reports of Wednesday's arrest did not state where Satheesh would be produced or any remand details. The SIT investigation into the alleged examination irregularities is continuing.