The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bengaluru Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at Rs 1.53 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. This action is linked to the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam involving former ADGP Amrit Paul and others. The attached assets include residential properties owned by Amrit Paul and Sridhar H, a head constable.
The ED’s investigation began following an FIR filed by the High Grounds Police Station of the CID, Bengaluru. The case involves alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Police Sub-Inspectors in Karnataka during 2021–22. The Karnataka Police Recruitment Cell had conducted exams to fill 545 PSI vacancies, with suspicions of cheating and corrupt practices emerging after the results were announced.
According to the ED, Amrit Paul, as the former Additional Director General of Police (Recruitment), played a key role in the conspiracy. He allegedly provided unauthorized access to the strong room where OMR answer sheets were stored. By handing over the keys to the strong room to an accomplice, Deputy Superintendent of Police Shanth Kumar, undeserving candidates’ OMR answer sheets were tampered with to ensure their selection, the ED claims.
The accused reportedly received bribes ranging from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 70 lakh per candidate. These illicit proceeds were allegedly disguised as hand loans and used for constructing residential properties. The ED had previously filed a prosecution complaint in the case, with the competent court acknowledging the offense of money laundering under the PMLA, 2002. Further investigations are ongoing.
