SC denies bail to kingpin RD Patil in FDA recruitment scandal

New Delhi

 The Supreme Court has denied bail to RD Patil (Rudragowda Patil), the alleged kingpin behind the irregularities in the FDA recruitment examinations conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). Patil had approached the Supreme Court challenging a previous order issued by the High Court denying him bail. A division bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai reviewed the case and upheld the High Court's decision.

The FDA recruitment exam, conducted on October 28, 2023, alongside various examinations by the KPSC across Karnataka, was marred by allegations of malpractice. During the exam held at the Shri Sharana Basaveshwara University examination center in Kalaburagi, several candidates were caught attempting to cheat using Bluetooth devices. An FIR was subsequently filed at the Afzalpur Police Station, leading to multiple arrests.

As the investigation unfolded, RD Patil's name emerged as the mastermind behind the operation. He was later arrested, and the Karnataka government assigned the CID to handle the investigation into the case.

Patil also faces serious allegations in the PSI examination scandal, where he is accused of colluding with college administration members to leak question papers and send answers through Bluetooth devices.

Authorities discovered several OMR sheets and hall tickets belonging to candidates in Patil’s residence, linking him directly to the ongoing FDA and SDA examination irregularities.

This scandal has sparked significant political uproar across Karnataka, with opposition parties targeting Minister Priyank Kharge, citing that the malpractices originated in Kalaburagi, emphasizing the need for accountability within the state's examination processes