The Crime Branch of Kerala Police has registered a case against Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) chairperson M.R. Baiju and other commission members over alleged irregularities in the recruitment examination for Fisheries Extension Officer posts. The FIR, registered on October 28, 2026, alleges that official authority was misused to manipulate the recruitment process and favour certain candidates.
According to the report published by The Hindu on October 31, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating suspected irregularities in PSC recruitment examinations has accused the commission's leadership and members of criminal breach of trust and misuse of their constitutionally sanctioned authority.
The allegations centre on the preparation and modification of the rank list for the post of Fisheries Extension Officer in the Kerala Fisheries Department. Investigators allege that candidates said to be associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), received preferential treatment at the expense of other eligible applicants.
FIR Registered Against PSC Leadership
The FIR was registered on October 28. The report says it identifies the accused through their official designations rather than naming the chairperson and individual members in the document.
The Crime Branch is examining whether the commission's authority was improperly exercised during the recruitment process and whether changes to the rank list provided an unfair advantage to selected candidates.
The allegations are serious because the KPSC is a constitutional body responsible for conducting recruitment examinations and recommending candidates for public-service appointments. Any manipulation of its selection procedures could affect the fairness of recruitment and public confidence in the institution.
Alleged Favouritism in Fisheries Extension Officer Recruitment
The investigation concerns recruitment for Fisheries Extension Officer posts notified by the commission in 2020. The rank list at the centre of the case was published in November 2022 and remained in force until November 2025, according to reporting by Onmanorama.
The Crime Branch alleges that candidates with links to the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), and individuals allegedly connected to CPI(M)-sympathetic officials, were given undue advantages through changes to the selection process and rank list. These are allegations recorded by investigators, not findings of guilt.
The central question for investigators is whether the recruitment process was conducted according to established rules and whether candidates received ranks or appointment opportunities through improper intervention.
Investigation Extends Beyond One Recruitment Examination
The Fisheries Extension Officer case is part of a wider Crime Branch investigation into alleged irregularities in multiple Kerala PSC recruitment examinations. Earlier reporting has identified separate inquiries involving recruitment for posts including the State Planning Board, Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector and Village Oil Inspector.
In the separate Planning Board recruitment investigation, the Crime Branch has also examined alleged problems in the evaluation of answer scripts. Two PSC officials, Additional Secretary R. Hari and former Deputy Secretary P. Satheesh, have been reported as accused in that case; their involvement in that separate investigation should not be confused with the allegations in the Fisheries Extension Officer FIR.
The broader probe has brought the commission's recruitment procedures and internal oversight mechanisms under scrutiny. Investigators are examining the roles played by officials and commission members in the relevant examinations and selection processes.
Questions Over Public Trust and Recruitment Transparency
The Crime Branch has alleged that the actions under investigation undermined public confidence in the commission. The KPSC plays a significant role in public-sector recruitment, making transparency in question-setting, evaluation, rank-list preparation and appointments essential to the credibility of the selection system.
The allegations also raise questions about safeguards designed to ensure that candidates are assessed on merit and that public appointments are not influenced by political or personal connections.
For institutions and organisations, transparent procedures, reliable documentation and independent review are important elements of accountability. Shunyatax provides information about its broader other professional services for organisations seeking support across business and compliance-related requirements.
The investigation is ongoing. The FIR records the allegations being examined by the Crime Branch; it does not establish that the chairperson or any commission member is guilty. Further findings from investigators and any subsequent judicial proceedings will determine how the case develops.