Karnataka FDA recruitment scam accused fled to Maharashtra, will be arrested soon, says Minister

Rudragouda D Patil, a key figure in the First Division Assistant recruitment test scam in Karnataka, has escaped to Maharashtra.

Published on: Nov 8, 2023, 10:59:54 IST

PTIPosted by Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Tuesday said Rudragouda D Patil whose name has figured in the First Division Assistant recruitment test scam, has escaped to Maharashtra, and police have been directed to catch him wherever he was holed up.

Over 20 people were arrested from Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts for using Bluetooth to write the test conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority on October 28.

READ | Elusive tiger kills 42-year-old man in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagara district

As his name surfaced in connection with the scandal, Patil scaled the boundary wall of the Mahalakshmi Apartment at Varada Nagar in the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi and fled on Monday, police sources said, citing CCTV footage of his act.

Patil is also an accused in the police sub-inspector recruitment scam, in which an Additional Director General of Police Amrit Paul was arrested and jailed for 15 months before he secured bail in September.

“We have already sensitised the police. We have given direction to police to ensure that the accused is arrested. We have got the information that he has escaped to Maharashtra. He will be arrested, which is not a big thing. He can escape (only) for a day,” Parameswara told reporters. The Minister warned those who assisted Patil in fleeing saying they will face police action. He reiterated that the accused will be brought to book.

READ | ‘Does being prime minister mean he is dictator of country’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

"Already there is a case against him in connection with the PSI recruitment scam. With his involvement in this scam, more evidence will add up against him", Parameshwara added. To a query, he said, “We will scrutinise the case and if required, we will give the case to the CID. All that we want is an investigation to bring out the truth and action against the accused.”

Regarding cancelling the exam and conducting it afresh, the Minister said such questions are left to the KEA. Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge, who is an MLA from Kalaburagi district, said there is no question of showing mercy to the accused. Meanwhile, BJP MLA and BJP Karnataka vice president B Y Vijayendra alleged that a minister and an MLA helped Patil escape.

“The entire Congress party is in support of the accused and supporting them. R D Patil is not an ordinary man. He is in touch with the bigwigs of the ruling Congress. Because of his support, he fled,” he alleged.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.