3 Things Deep Dive: The anatomy of a govt job racket
Oct 7, 2026
Jay Mazoomdar, an investigative journalist with The Indian Express, examines alleged corruption in Karnataka’s public service recruitment. He details paper leaks, manipulated exams, sold appointments and bribes allegedly reaching ₹80 lakh. The investigation also traces political protection, retaliation against officials seeking transparency, and the probes now facing those accused.
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KPSC Appointments Had No Qualification Floor
- KPSC rules impose no minimum qualification for members or chairpersons, leaving appointments vulnerable to political patronage or alleged payments.
- Sources told Jay Mazoomdar that membership reportedly cost ₹8–10 crore in Karnataka, while chairmanship could cost twice as much.
How Job Quotas Allegedly Protected The Racket
- The alleged system divided jobs among political nominees, commission-selected candidates, and the genuinely deserving remainder.
- Because members could recover enormous appointment payments by selling jobs, the structure rewarded corruption rather than fair recruitment.
Candidates Were Allegedly Bribed After Already Qualifying
- KPSC allegedly withheld written-exam marks, obtained top candidates’ contact details, and used fixers to demand bribes from people who had already qualified on merit.
- Demands reportedly ranged from ₹40–50 lakh to more than ₹1 crore, depending on the job’s earning potential.