The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Karnataka High Court's direction constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by senior IPS officer Alok Kumar to conduct a de novo investigation into alleged irregularities in two Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment cases.
A Division Bench of Justice Manoj Misra and Justice Vijay Bishnoi directed the Karnataka government to submit, in a sealed cover, its objections to the members of the SIT constituted pursuant to the High Court's order.
The State has also been permitted to suggest alternative names for the SIT.
“Issue notice. In the meantime, the direction in para 34(i) and 34(ii) shall remain stayed. By the next date, the State shall submit in sealed cover delineating the objections against the members of the SIT constituted under the order of the High Court. They may also suggest alternative names for the SIT," the order said.
The order was passed on an appeal filed by the Karnataka government challenging the High Court's September 21 order.
The State contended that the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was nearing completion and that there were no specific allegations against the investigating agency warranting its replacement with an SIT.
The State argued that there was no justification for ordering a de novo investigation, particularly in the absence of any allegation that the existing investigating agency was biased, inefficient or inactive.
The State also raised objections to certain officers named as members of the SIT constituted by the High Court.
The case concerns allegations relating to two KPSC recruitment processes — recruitment to 50 Industrial Extension Officer posts and 400 Veterinary Officer posts.
The State has contended that the two cases involve distinct allegations and ought not to have been clubbed together for the purpose of investigation.
It further submitted that the CID had already made substantial progress in the Veterinary Officer recruitment case, including the seizure of OMR answer sheets and digital devices, freezing of alleged proceeds and arrest of key suspects.
The State's plea said that the CID had arrested former KPSC Controller of Examinations Gyanendra Kumar and alleged middleman Basavaraj Kannale (both are in ED custody now).
The State argued that ordering a fresh investigation could disrupt the ongoing probe as well as connected custody and bail proceedings.
The Karnataka government has also challenged the High Court's decision to name specific police officers for the SIT, contending that deployment and transfer of police officers fall within the executive domain.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty along with advocate Sanchit Garg appeared for Karnataka.