PSC exam irregularities dating back to 2019, 2020; probe reaches former Chairman Sakeer, KAS also in focus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman M.K. Sakeer has been named an accused in the alleged irregularities in the PSC's Khadi Board examination. The irregularities relate to the rank list for the post of Village Oil Inspector in the Khadi Board. The allegation is that the examination was conducted by manipulating the eligibility criteria to facilitate the appointment of the wife of a senior PSC official. The Crime Branch's Special Investigation Team (SIT) will soon issue a notice summoning Sakeer for questioning.

Sakeer served as PSC chairman from 2016 to October 2022. The Fisheries Extension Officer and Khadi Board Inspector examinations, in which irregularities were detected, were conducted during his tenure.

The Village Oil Inspector examination for the Khadi Board was held in 2019, and its rank list was published in 2020. The Fisheries Extension Officer examination was conducted in 2020, and its rank list was published in 2022.

PSC members who were questioned earlier gave statements that Sakeer had intervened on behalf of the CPI(M), including in the first Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) examination. Sakeer has links with the CPI(M) and had contested the Assembly election as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Ponnani.

PSC Secretary to be questioned again

The SIT will record the statement of PSC Secretary Saju George again in connection with the examination irregularities. He has been asked to appear at 2 pm. He was questioned for four hours on the previous occasion. The questions then were confined to the procedural aspects of the examinations.

The SIT will summon Examination Controller Bini K. Abraham only after questioning Saju George. The investigation team subsequently plans to question all PSC members.