"CID (Criminal Investigation Department) inquiry has been done in the KPSC (Karnataka Public Service Commission) case; CID in its report has said that the corruption has taken place. How can we completely deny an investigating agency's report about corruption," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
He said government would have to work in the framework of law and added that the Law department had also suggested that the list submitted should not be accepted and the notification had to be withdrawn.
Prompted by a CID report about large scale malpractices, Karnataka Cabinet had yesterday scrapped the 2011 provisional list of gazetted probationary officers for group A and B services and ordered re-examination.
Government had ordered the CID inquiry into alleged irregularities after several candidates complained of rampant corruption during the selection process. Nearly one lakh candidates took the examination over three years ago.
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Siddaramaiah said "despite knowing that corruption (had taken place), if we accept it, it will send wrong signal to the people. This decision was taken after carefully examining all the factors and discussing about it in detail."
Meanwhile, selected candidates waiting for appointment who are staging a dharna for the past few weeks at Freedom Park, continued their protest. They have been demanding acceptance of KPSC's final list of 362 candidates.
Protestors raised slogans against the cabinet's decision, and demanded Siddaramaiah meet them.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who met protestors today said ".....I will request government to shed its prestige, government is for delivering justice, but in the name of delivering justice they have done injustice to these candidates."