New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that an impartial probe in connection with the alleged scam in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors (PSI) is underway and that all those involved will be booked and brought to justice. He also slammed the Congress leaders for making ‘baseless’ allegations against Higher Education Minister and his cabinet colleague CN Ashwath Narayan in connection with the scam and said the opposition was involved in ‘hit and run’ without evidence.
Speaking to reporters close to news agency PTI, Bommai said that a probe is underway in large scale and the government is dealing with the case with an open mind for an impartial investigation.
"Whatever complaints have come from whomever, they will be considered, if any documents are given they will be examined and inquiry will be done. If there is any truth, whoever needs to be booked in the case will be booked," PTI quoted Bommai as saying.
The scam is about large-scale malpractices in the examination to recruit 545 police sub-inspectors that was held in the state in October last year.
Recently, the Karnataka government decided to annul the examination and decided to hold a re-exam. The chief minister said that not only Divya Hagargi, who is the primary accused, they are several others involved in the scam and they are all being booked.
It is to be noted that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police, which is probing the case, had recently arrested Divya Hagaragi, who is said to be associated with the BJP, in Pune, along with her associates and had brought her to Kalaburagi.
Replying to whether there were any arrests in the past in connection with any exam malpractices, CM Bommai said that over 25 people have been arrested so far in the PSI scam and as the investigation continues, the number may increase.
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Lashing out at the Congress leaders for making ‘baseless allegations’ against Minister CN Ashwath Narayan in connection to the PSI scam, Bommai said that the opposition party has to be responsible and should not make any allegations with evidence.
"Congress is trying to hit and run, but they will not be successful,” Bommai said.
“During their tenure there were several cases of question paper leak and exam malpractices in various exams including PSI, PUC (class 12), but they never took any action. When we are taking action and after the arrest of some of their party members they are worried about true colours coming out in the open," he added.
Meanwhile, accusing the BJP government at the Centre of supporting the "40 per cent commission government" in Karnataka, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on Wednesday demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting High Court judge into the PSI scam.
Siddaramaiah also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Araga Jnanendra for his failures and sacking Ashwath Narayan in connection with the alleged scam.
Notably, Siddaramaiah and the Congress leaders have claimed Narayan was linked to the accused candidates in the PSI recruitment scam.