A Bengaluru Sessions Court has granted anticipatory bail to Suma S. Sahukar, daughter of suspended Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairperson Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, in a case concerning the alleged submission of a false family income certificate for securing reservation benefits in a government recruitment process.
The order was passed by the LXII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, who made absolute an earlier interim anticipatory bail granted to the accused. The court observed that custodial interrogation was not necessary at this stage of the investigation.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by a KPSC official, alleging that Suma Sahukar applied for a government post under the Category 3B reservation quota by producing an income certificate showing her family's annual income as only ₹40,000. Investigators alleged that the declaration was inconsistent with the financial status of her family, given that her father served as a member and later Chairperson of the KPSC, drawing a substantial monthly salary.
According to the prosecution, the alleged misrepresentation enabled her to seek reservation benefits that may not have otherwise been available. Based on the complaint, the Vidhan Soudha Police registered a criminal case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the bail proceedings, the defence argued that Suma Sahukar had voluntarily withdrawn her candidature before the registration of the FIR and had no intention of obtaining any unlawful advantage. It was further submitted that the case was primarily based on documentary evidence already available with the KPSC, making custodial interrogation unnecessary.
The defence also informed the court that departmental proceedings had already been initiated and that related proceedings were subject to judicial scrutiny before the Karnataka High Court.
Accepting these submissions, the Sessions Court made the interim anticipatory bail order absolute, while directing the accused to cooperate with the investigation whenever required.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to the involvement of the daughter of a senior constitutional functionary and raises broader concerns regarding the integrity of reservation-related certifications in public recruitment processes. The investigation is continuing, and the allegations remain subject to adjudication on merits.