Keralam PSC exam fraud: Crime Branch indicts chairperson, members on charges of corruption, political favouritism

The Crime Branch has also accused the KPSC chairperson and members of undermining public confidence in the commission (file) | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch probing the suspected fraud in recruitment tests conducted by the Kerala State Public Service Commission (KPSC) for State government employment has registered an FIR against the independent constitutional body’s chairperson M.R. Baiju and fellow members.The FIR registered on October 28 listed only the official titles of Mr Baiju and did not identify him or the other PSC members by name. It indicts the chairperson and other members for criminal breach of trust and wrongful employment of their constitutionally sanctioned authority to tilt the playing field in favour of candidates owing allegiance to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] by tweaking the rank list for the post of Fisheries Extension Officer under the Keralam Fisheries Department. The Crime Branch has booked the accused on charges of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code and misuse of official authority to grant undue favours under Sections 7 and 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The KPSC had conducted the tests in November 2022 and published the rank list, which expired in November 2025. The Crime Branch has accused the chairperson and members of stacking the deck in favour of Left-leaning candidates from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), thereby depriving other qualified job aspirants of their constitutional right to equal opportunity in government employment under Article 16(1).The Crime Branch has also accused the KPSC chairperson and members of undermining public confidence in the commission, created to ensure an independent, fair, transparent, and merit-based selection process for public employment, insulated from political influence and favouritism. The Crime Branch’s move against the KPSC chairperson and fellow members comes close on the heels of the arrest of two PSC officials — Additional Secretary R. Hari and former Deputy Secretary P. Satheesh — in connection with alleged irregularities in the examination for appointment to posts in the State Planning Board.Probe gathers momentumMeanwhile, the Crime Branch probe into allegations of favouritism and corruption centring on the conduct of tests for the post of Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector has reportedly gathered momentum. Investigators said they were verifying whether a sizeable number of questions were lifted from online study material published by private tutorials. The Crime Branch was also probing allegations that candidates who failed to meet the physical standards made their way into the KPSC’s final rank list. The Crime Branch team, led by Inspector General of Police Ajeetha Begum, extensively questioned Mr Baiju in connection with the suspected series of public examination fraud centred around the KPSC. The case against Mr Baiju and other PSC members, all political appointees of the previous LDF government, appeared to have put the CPI(M)-led Opposition on the defensive. In October, the then Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, recommending the removal of Mr Baiju and other PSC members from office, citing disturbing irregularities and match-fixing in the conduct of public employment examinations. The CPI(M) accused the UDF government of pussyfooting around Mr Arlekar’s contentious recommendation to remove the KPSC board, which was supposedly made without the Cabinet’s advice, as an intrusion into the State government’s jurisdiction and a muted acquiescence to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government “anti-federal” political agenda. Published - October 31, 2026 12:05 pm IST