HC refuses to halt probe on fake certificate row

The Karnataka High Court has refused to halt a criminal investigation into Suma S Sahukar, the daughter of a suspended former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairman, Shivashankarappa S Sahukar. The probe centers on allegations that she used a fraudulent income certificate to claim reservation benefits in a government recruitment process.

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Prima facie, this appears to be a case of fraud.

During the hearing, Justice M Nagaprasanna questioned the validity of an income certificate submitted by Sahukar, which declared an annual income of ₹40,000. Investigators allege that her family's actual annual income was approximately ₹30 lakh. The court indicated that the allegations presented a prima facie case warranting further investigation and expressed reluctance to terminate the proceedings prematurely.

"Prima facie, this appears to be a case of fraud," Justice Nagaprasanna observed, adding, "You have taken away the opportunity meant for a poor candidate. Is this how reservation benefits are to be claimed?" The court also questioned the petitioner's argument that only individual income should be considered, emphasizing that the certificate required disclosure of family income.

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You have taken away the opportunity meant for a poor candidate. Is this how reservation benefits are to be claimed?

Justice Nagaprasanna voiced significant concern over the repeated controversies plaguing recruitments conducted by the KPSC. "Every recruitment by the KPSC appears to end up in controversy. This is becoming a disturbing pattern," the judge remarked. With the court indicating it would not quash the proceedings or grant interim protection, Sahukar's counsel withdrew the plea, allowing the criminal investigation to continue.

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Every recruitment by the KPSC appears to end up in controversy. This is becoming a disturbing pattern.