'Missing' Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Gangwar safe, in UP over father's health

The mystery surrounding Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar's reported disappearance has been cleared up, with Home Minister Priyank Kharge saying the officer is safe and currently in his native place in Uttar Pradesh due to a family emergency involving his father's health.

Kharge said there had been "some miscommunication" and firmly denied any connection between Gangwar's absence and the Enforcement Directorate's recent searches at the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

The clarification came hours after reports that the 2016-batch IAS officer had been uncontactable since August 20, with his official phone switched off and information suggesting that he had travelled to Delhi.

"There was some miscommunication; it has nothing to do with ED raids," Kharge told reporters on Saturday.

He said the government initially had limited information when he was asked about Gangwar's whereabouts earlier in the day.

GANGWAR LEFT FOR UP OVER FATHER'S HEALTH

Kharge said Gangwar had to leave suddenly because of fluctuations in his father's health. His father is a heart patient, the minister said.

According to Kharge, Gangwar had submitted a handwritten leave request seeking a week's leave to travel to his native place due to "unavoidable circumstances".

"He has written a letter to the officials concerned. A handwritten leave note stated that he needed to go to his native place for a week due to unavoidable circumstances and requested leave," Kharge said.

The leave could not be processed immediately as there was a festival the previous day and the government was not fully operational, he added.

Kharge said the officer's official phone had been switched off, while he also had a personal phone. Gangwar could not initially be reached as he was travelling and was subsequently at his native place in Uttar Pradesh.

"We contacted him, and he told us that he had applied for leave and informed the government. Due to a family issue concerning his father's health, he could not communicate properly," Kharge said.

"He said he would return in a couple of days and communicate properly, and requested a week's leave," he added.

‘NOTHING TO DO WITH ED RAIDS’

Kharge also rejected speculation that Gangwar's absence was linked to the Enforcement Directorate's recent searches at the KPSC.

The minister said he had personally spoken to Gangwar, who denied any such connection and said he was willing to face an inquiry if required.

"While the circumstances might suggest a link to the KPSC, he has very clearly said that he is open to an inquiry by any agency as a government servant," Kharge said.

He added that there were currently no allegations against Gangwar.

"There are no allegations against him currently, and no one has filed an application seeking an inquiry against him; let this be very clear," he said.

Kharge said Gangwar was expected to return soon.

WHY GANGWAR'S ABSENCE RAISED QUESTIONS

Gangwar had previously served as the controller of examinations at the Karnataka Public Service Commission and was replaced from the post in March this year.

His reported absence had attracted attention because the ED had recently searched the KPSC and premises linked to its chairman and other officials as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged scam in the recruitment examination for veterinary officers.

Earlier on Saturday, Kharge had said the government was aware that Gangwar was unreachable but that no formal complaint had been filed by his family or anyone else.

At that stage, officials had said Gangwar was last traced to Kempegowda International Airport and that his whereabouts were being looked into.

Kharge has now clarified that Gangwar had travelled to Uttar Pradesh because of his father's health and that there was no confirmed link between his absence and the ED investigation.

KPSC CHAIRMAN FACES FRESH ACTION

The Gangwar episode comes amid a separate controversy surrounding KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar.

Kharge said the Karnataka Cabinet had decided to recommend to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot that Sahukar be suspended and an inquiry be initiated against him.

Sahukar is facing several allegations of corruption and nepotism, including allegations that his daughter was selected for a government job using an allegedly false income certificate.

The Governor had suspended Sahukar on July 13 for "not disclosing important information" and "misbehaviour". However, on August 18, the Karnataka High Court ordered his reinstatement, saying the Governor's decision had not been taken with the aid and advice of the Cabinet.

Kharge said the state government had now decided to reiterate its position.

"The entire episode surrounding recruitment at the KPSC and the large-scale corruption associated with it is being discussed among the public, and the future of youngsters has indeed been put at stake," he said.

"Understanding the sentiments of the people, we have decided to go by the governor's earlier decision to suspend him, and we have given the governor the same aid and advice. We have discussed the inquiry into all this," Kharge added.

The ED's KPSC searches and the dispute involving Sahukar remain under scrutiny, but Kharge's latest clarification makes clear that Gangwar's absence was due to a family emergency and has not been linked to the agency's investigation.