{
  "id": 8864311,
  "title": "One name led to another to crack the ‘black box’: How Express investigated Karnataka jobs scam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/one-name-led-to-another-to-crack-the-black-box-how-express",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T06:57:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-job-scam-express-investigated-black-box-kpsc-government-recruiter-exam-10887029/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "According to the investigation by The Indian Express, the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) chief, Shivashankarappa S Sahukar, was accused of a job scam involving his daughter and the use of leaked papers and answer keys by touts. The recurring allegations suggested that Sahukar, who was handpicked by the BJP for the KPSC in 2019, was protected by both the BJP and the Congress parties in power in Karnataka. To uncover the extent of irregularities, The Indian Express traced Sahukar's entire tenure, going back to 2019, when he first became a KPSC member. The investigation faced challenges due to the secretive nature of the KPSC's affairs, but sources within the bureaucracy provided valuable insights. The report also revealed that Shakuntala Dundigoudar, who joined the KPSC immediately after Sahukar, was another key figure in the alleged manipulation of the recruitment system. Shakuntala was appointed on March 16, 2023, just a day after the KPSC was expanded, and her husband, Shrikant, joined the BJP in April 2023. Our reporting traced their political connections and found that Shakuntala's company saw a significant jump in revenue around the same time Shakuntala became a KPSC member. Shakuntala was appointed as the most senior member of the KPSC probe team in July 2026.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Karnataka Public Service Commission chief Shivashankarappa S Sahukar accused of job scam",
    "Daughter involved in recruitment system manipulation with leaked papers and answer keys",
    "Shakuntala Dundigoudar appointed as senior KPSC probe team member in July 2026"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The expose reveals deep-seated connections between Karnataka's ruling parties and key officials at the Public Service Commission, suggesting a pattern of patronage and cronyism that undermines recruitment processes.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "One name led to another to crack the ‘black box’: How Express investigated Karnataka jobs scam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/one-name-led-to-another-to-crack-the-black-box-how-express-8868820",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:57:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}