“Missing” IAS Officer Not Missing: Karnataka Minister Debunks Rumors!
“Missing” IAS Officer Not Missing: Karnataka Minister Debunks Rumors!
Priyank Kharge clarifies that IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar is not missing or fleeing ED raids. He's in UP for his ill father, returning to Bengaluru soon! #KarnatakaNews
Rumours swirled and headlines buzzed about a “missing” IAS officer in Karnataka, but state minister Priyank Kharge has stepped forward to set the record straight. Senior IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar, far from being a fugitive from the Income Tax Department or the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is actually in Uttar Pradesh attending to his ailing father.
Kharge clarified that Kumar’s communication regarding his leave, which was sent during a holiday, wasn't immediately noticed, leading to the misunderstanding. “He will return to Bengaluru in another two days,” the minister assured, quashing any speculation of him absconding due to fear of investigations.
The rumors gained traction after it was reported that Kumar, a 2016-batch IAS officer, had booked a last-minute flight to Delhi on August 20 for a hefty ₹30,253. This sudden departure, coupled with an IAS officer reportedly seeking assistance from the Bengaluru police commissioner to trace him, fueled the intense speculation.
The context for the ED raid fears likely stemmed from recent developments involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). Kumar had previously served as the Controller of Examinations at KPSC before being replaced earlier this year. The ED recently raided KPSC premises, former chairman Shiva Shankarappa Sahukar, and others as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the veterinary officer recruitment examination. The Cabinet has also decided to recommend the suspension of Sahukar, who faces corruption and nepotism charges.
Despite the dramatic backdrop of ongoing investigations at his former workplace, Kharge firmly stated that Kumar's travel was purely due to a family emergency, with “no question of him escaping because of fear of the IT Department or the ED.” The minister’s timely clarification aims to put an end to the whirlwind of rumors surrounding the senior bureaucrat's whereabouts.
