'Missing' Karnataka IAS Officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar Traced In UP; What Minister Said On His Link To ED Search At KPSC

Karnataka IAS officer Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, who reportedly went missing since August 20, was traced in his native place in Uttar Pradesh due to a family emergency involving his father's health. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday clarified that Gangwar, who is currently the Director, MSME in the Karnataka government, did not go missing, saying he went to his native place due to a family emergency situation.

Gangwar Had Earlier Served In KPSC

Gangwar, a 2016 batch IAS officer, was earlier serving as the Controller of Examinations in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and was removed from the post in March this year. Priyank said Gangwar had denied any link between his absence and the Enforcement Directorate's recent searches at the Karnataka Public Service Commission, and was open to an inquiry if required.

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Earlier in the day, reports had said the IAS official had been uncontactable since August 20 and had reportedly booked a flight ticket to Delhi.

"There was some miscommunication; it has nothing to do with ED searches. When you (the media) asked me in the morning, we did not have much information, and I told you that he (Gangwar) had been unavailable for contact for the last couple of days," Priyank said.

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Speaking to reporters here, he said there was an emergency in Gangwar's family as his father was a heart patient. Due to fluctuations in his father's health, the officer had to leave suddenly, he said.

Noting that Gangwar's official phone was switched off, the minister said the officer also had a personal phone but could not initially be reached as he was travelling and was subsequently at his native place.

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

No Link With ED Searches At KPSC: Minister

Priyank said reports that Gangwar had gone missing and that his absence was linked to the ED searches at the KPSC were untrue. He said he had personally spoken to the officer, who would return soon.

According to the information received by the government, the official was last traced to Kempegowda International Airport, the minister had said. The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday searched the premises of the KPSC, its chairman Sahukar, member Shanta Hosmani and some others as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged scam in the recruitment examination for veterinary officers.
(With PTI inputs)