THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The investigation into alleged irregularities in a Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination has widened to the very top of the commission, with the Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) preparing to question Chairman M.R. Baiju once more — this time alongside Additional Secretary R. Hari, who has already been arrested in the case — reports said on Thursday.

Source: Madhyamam

Investigators intend to confront the two officials with evidence relating to the alleged manipulation of the examination held for the post of Chief in the State Planning Board. The step follows earlier developments in the same case: Baiju was questioned by the Crime Branch in late October, Hari was arrested after being traced in Kochi, and retired Deputy Secretary P. Satheesh was the first person arrested in the case. All the allegations are yet to be tested in court.

According to investigators, for 51 candidates only Questions 1 to 9 and 18 to 28 were evaluated, while for the remaining 177 candidates only Questions 1 to 8 and 18 to 28 were checked. The probe has found that the evaluation was allegedly terminated midway through a fake software login, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

Hari has denied responsibility for the failure to evaluate the questions, saying the task belonged to Satheesh and that he was not aware the answers had been left unchecked; the SIT is not satisfied with his version, Madhyamam reported. The Crime Branch suspects that several key decisions taken by the Chairman without wider consultation may have enabled the alleged irregularities, and PSC members have told investigators that Baiju personally chose the panel that framed the questions as well as the officials assigned to assess the answer sheets — claims the investigation has yet to establish.

PSC Secretary Saju George has reportedly told the Crime Branch that the Chairman frequently bypassed collective decision-making and shifted blame to officials when controversies arose, and that while Baiju and Hari took some decisions together, the Chairman often acted independently.

Removal demand reaches the President

On the political front, a BJP delegation comprising state president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar and nominated Rajya Sabha members C. Sadanandan and P.T. Usha moved to meet President Droupadi Murmu to press for action against the PSC board. The Hindu reported on Thursday that the team met the President and sought action on former Governor Rajendra Arlekar's recommendation for the removal of Baiju and the commission's members. Arlekar, who has since moved to Tamil Nadu as Governor, had written to the President before leaving Kerala seeking the board's dismissal over the allegations.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has criticised Arlekar's move, questioning the constitutional propriety of a Governor recommending the removal of the PSC chairman without consulting the state government, and insisting the controversy must not divert attention from the Crime Branch investigation, whose preliminary material he described as disturbing. Removal of a state PSC chairman is governed by Article 317 of the Constitution, under which the President may remove a chairman or member for misbehaviour after a Supreme Court inquiry. The pro-CPI(M) PSC Employees Union, meanwhile, has protested against what it calls politically motivated action against the commission.

Source: The Arabian Post

The scandal has severely damaged public trust in the PSC and raised uncertainty over the board's future. The investigation is continuing, and no court has pronounced on the allegations against any of the officials named.