Overview
- Save University Campaign Committee chair R. S. Sasikumar lodged a formal complaint alleging favouritism in the special Dy.SP (Trainee) recruitment and asked officials to withhold the top-ranked candidate’s appointment to training.
- The complaint names the first-ranked candidate, Jithin K. J., and alleges prior criminal incidents and an unexpected jump over more qualified applicants; the candidate has denied the charges and says the petition aims to block his appointment.
- Investigators from the Crime Branch Special Investigation Team have been questioning PSC officials about recruitment procedures, with PSC secretary Saju George giving a second round of testimony on Monday that accused chair M. R. Baiju of taking unilateral decisions.
- The probe is focusing on concrete procedural issues, including the rapid timeline from the December exam to May rank list, the selection of interview board members by the chair, and technical aspects of question paper preparation and panel appointment.
- The recruitment is consequential because direct entry to the Dy.SP cadre has not been held since 1983 and drew about 17,000 applicants; the SIT’s findings could block June appointment orders and reshape oversight of future PSC recruitments.