Bengaluru, 23 August

The ED raided the premises of IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar in Bengaluru and Bareilly on Sunday in connection with its money laundering investigation linked to the alleged irregularities in an exam conducted by the KPSC, officials said.

Gangwar is a 2016-batch IAS officer and is posted as Director-MSME in the Karnataka Department of Industries and Commerce. He was the KPSC Controller of Examinations and was replaced in March.

Officials said Gangwar's premises in Bengaluru and UP’s Bareilly were searched under PMLA. It was not immediately known if the officer was seen by the ED at the premises.

A controversy erupted on Saturday after Gangwar was reported "missing" for a few hours. Later, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge clarified that Gangwar was in his native place in UP after an emergency involving his father's health.

The ED, on 18 August, searched the KPSC’s premises in Bengaluru and those of former Chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, Member Shanta Hosmani and some others.

The probe is linked to a money laundering investigation and the veterinary officers recruitment exam 'scam'.