The latest corruption scandal to hit the BJP government in Karnataka is the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam. After initially denying any malpractice, the government ordered a CID probe. The CID found that those paying ₹25 lakh to ₹80 lakh were able to secure top ranks. The discovery of such malpractices forced the government to cancel the selection list for 545 PSIs and order a re-exam.
While the BJP has tried to brazen it out, it has not been able to shake off the stain of the scam on its image easily, especially since this comes close on the heels of the resignation of senior Minister K. S. Eshwarappa following the death of a contractor who had accused him of corruption.
There have been allegations against BJP leaders, including a Minister, in the PSI recruitment scam too. One of the kingpins of the scam is Divya Hagaragi, a BJP leader who runs a school in Afzalpur, an exam centre for PSI exams that has now turned out to be a hub of malpractices. Two block-level Congress leaders from Afzalpur — Mahantesh Patil and Rudragouda Patil — have also been found to have colluded with Ms. Hagaragi and arrested.
