Departmental Inquiry Begins Against Suspended IPS Officer Amrit Paul in PSI Recruitment Scam

The Karnataka government has formally initiated a departmental inquiry against suspended senior IPS officer Amrit Paul in connection with the widely discussed Police Sub Inspector recruitment scam. The move comes several years after the criminal investigation into the alleged irregularities began and marks a significant step in the administrative proceedings.

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has issued a notice to Amrit Paul, directing him to respond to the allegations and appear before the inquiry. Officials stated that the action has been initiated after examining reports and evidence submitted by the investigating agency.

According to the government, the departmental proceedings have received official approval from Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who also oversees the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. The inquiry will be conducted under the provisions of the All India Services Discipline and Appeal Rules of 1969.

The PSI recruitment controversy, involving the recruitment of 545 Police Sub Inspectors, had triggered widespread attention across Karnataka. During the period in question, Amrit Paul was serving as the Additional Director General of Police overseeing the police recruitment division. He was later named as one of the key accused in the case and was arrested before being released on bail.

Investigators had submitted a detailed chargesheet running into 1406 pages before a magistrate court in 2022. Despite the filing of the chargesheet, departmental action had remained pending for several years. The latest notice, issued on July 9, signals the beginning of the long awaited internal disciplinary process.

Authorities have asked the suspended officer to provide an explanation regarding the allegations and record his statement as part of the inquiry. The administrative investigation will run separately from the ongoing criminal proceedings and will focus on possible violations of service rules and official conduct.

The case was initially registered at Bengaluru’s High Grounds Police Station along with two police stations in North Karnataka before it was transferred to the CID Special Investigation Team for a comprehensive probe. The investigation later became one of the most high profile recruitment cases in the state’s history.

The PSI recruitment scam remains one of Karnataka’s most significant public recruitment controversies. With the departmental inquiry now underway, the government is expected to examine the evidence in detail before deciding on any further disciplinary action against the suspended officer.