Karnataka IAS officer goes missing amid corruption row, last traced to airport

Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar has gone incommunicado and was last traced to the Bengaluru airport. The case has sharpened scrutiny around the KPSC and wider public concern over recruitment controversies.Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar (Photo: ITG)Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar has reportedly gone missing and has been unreachable for the past two days, according to official sources. State Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Saturday that the government had received information about the matter, though no formal complaint had been filed by his family or anyone else.Kharge said Gangwar was last traced to Kempegowda International Airport and the matter was being examined. Gangwar, a 2016-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as Director, MSME, in the Department of Industries and Commerce.Sources said Gangwar has been incommunicado since August 20 and had reportedly booked a flight ticket to Delhi. Responding to questions from reporters, Kharge said, "The information came a couple of days ago. No formal complaint has been lodged by his family or anyone else. From this morning, there are also reports on this in the media."He added, "All modes of communication with him have been disconnected, and he is not reachable. As of now, we have information that he was last traced to Kempegowda International Airport. We have received some information from the airport and are looking into it. We are still investigating and will decide on the further course of action." Gangwar had earlier served as controller of examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission and was replaced in that post in March this year. While there are reports linking his disappearance to developments during his tenure at the KPSC, official sources said nothing could be confirmed at this stage.On another question, Kharge said the state Cabinet on Friday decided to recommend to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot that KPSC chairperson Shivashankarappa S Sahukar be suspended and that an inquiry be initiated against him. Sahukar is facing several allegations of corruption. He is also facing charges of nepotism after his daughter was selected for a government job based on a false income certificate. Kharge said, "The governor had suspended him (Sahukar), against which he approached the High Court, and the court asked the Governor to decide as per the aid and advice of the government. The Cabinet discussed the matter yesterday." He added, "The entire episode surrounding recruitment at the KPSC and the large-scale corruption associated with it is being discussed among the public, and the future of youngsters has indeed been put at stake. People are demanding answers about what the BJP's share in it is and what role the KPSC Chairman played in it."He further said, "Understanding the sentiments of the people, we have decided to go by the governor's earlier decision to suspend him (Sahukar), and we have given the Governor the same aid and advice. We have discussed the inquiry into all this." The Governor suspended Sahukar on July 13 for "not disclosing important information" and "misbehaviour." However, on August 18, the High Court ordered his reinstatement, saying the Governor's decision had not been taken with the aid and advice of the Cabinet.The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided the premises of the KPSC, Sahukar, member Shanta Hosmani and some others as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged scam in the recruitment examination for veterinary officers. As of Saturday, the government said Gangwar's whereabouts were still being looked into, while developments linked to the KPSC were also under scrutiny.- EndsWith PTI inputsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 22, 2026 16:24 IST