Bengaluru: Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who was reported unreachable since August 20, has made contact with state authorities.
Home Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the bureaucrat had applied for leave and urgently travelled to his hometown due to a family emergency, though his official phone remained unreachable, leading to initial reports of him going missing.
 

Earlier, official sources noted that the 2016-batch IAS officer, currently serving as Director, MSME, Department of Industries and Commerce, had booked a flight ticket to Delhi. He was last traced to Kempegowda International Airport before communications were lost.

Before media reports surfaced, Home Minister Priyank Kharge addressed reporters, “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.”

Highlighting the active investigation at the time, Kharge 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 previously served as the controller of examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) until his replacement in March. Although speculation surfaced connecting his temporary absence to the developments during his former KPSC tenure, officials confirmed no such link has been established.

Meanwhile, the state Cabinet has decided to recommend to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot the suspension of KPSC chairperson Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and the initiation of an inquiry into corruption allegations against him. Sahukar faces charges of graft and nepotism after his daughter was allegedly recruited based on a fake income certificate.

The Governor had initially suspended Sahukar on July 13 for “not disclosing important information” and “misbehaviour”. However, the High Court ordered his reinstatement on August 18, pointing out that the suspension lacked Cabinet aid and advice.

The Enforcement Directorate had recently conducted raids at premises linked to the KPSC, Sahukar and commission member Shanta Hosmani regarding a money laundering probe tied to the veterinary officer recruitment examination.

 

PTI