States » SouthPosted at: Nov 2 2026 5:36PM


VAO exam scam: CCTV captures topper using Google Lens, candidate arrested

Bengaluru, Nov 2 (UNI) Karnataka's Village Administrative Officer (VAO) recruitment examination has come under scrutiny after CCTV footage allegedly showed a candidate who topped the Haveri district merit list using a mobile phone and Google Lens to find answers during the test, leading to his arrest and registration of a police case.
The accused, Shankar Bannur, 31, from Hanagal in Haveri district, allegedly carried a mobile phone into the examination hall at Shiggaon on October 4, scanned the question paper using Google Lens and searched for answers online before marking them on his OMR sheet, according to police.
The controversy first surfaced after Bannur secured 151.25 marks out of 200 in the VAO recruitment examination, conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), despite having scored only 25 marks in the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) constable recruitment examination conducted earlier.
The sharp difference in his performance triggered questions on social media, prompting the KEA to order a comprehensive inquiry.
KEA Executive Director H Prasanna had directed the Haveri Deputy Commissioner, who is also the district chief examination superintendent, to examine the CCTV footage, investigate possible irregularities at the examination centre and submit a report. The authority had also instructed officials to lodge a police complaint if necessary.
The subsequent examination of CCTV footage reportedly revealed that Bannur had used a mobile phone during the examination. Police said he was confronted with the footage during questioning and allegedly admitted to carrying the device into the examination hall.
According to the investigation, the candidate occupied a seat at the rear of the examination hall and used Google Lens to scan questions and obtain answers. He allegedly marked the answers on the OMR sheet without attracting the attention of examination personnel.
The Shiggaon police registered a case against him under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust and unfair practices in recruitment examinations. He was taken into custody on Sunday and questioned by police.
The case has also raised questions over security arrangements at the examination centre, particularly how the candidate managed to carry a mobile phone inside despite restrictions on electronic devices.
Police are examining the role of invigilators and other examination-centre personnel, including those responsible for checking candidates before allowing them into the hall.
The candidate had earlier denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he had secured the marks through hard work. He had said he came from a financially poor family, worked in hotels and cinema theatres while preparing for competitive examinations and had appeared for more than 45 recruitment tests.
The investigation has also brought discrepancies in his educational records to the fore. According to the KEA, Bannur had passed his second-year Pre-University Course examination in 2013, and the information furnished in his VAO application matched the records of the Pre-University Education Department.
However, KEA server records reportedly showed that he had subsequently entered 2026 as his PUC passing year in his application for the KSRP constable examination.
Earlier, the KEA had clarified that its records confirmed Bannur's identity through facial recognition at the examination centre and that his OMR answer sheet was in order. The sheet had been scanned on October 5 and uploaded to the authority's website.
The case has brought renewed attention to the integrity of government recruitment examinations in Karnataka, with questions being raised over examination-centre supervision, verification procedures and the effectiveness of safeguards against malpractice.
The police investigation is also expected to establish whether the alleged malpractice was confined to the candidate or involved any examination-centre personnel.
UNI BDN
Tags: #VAO exam scam: CCTV captures topper using Google Lens# candidate arrested
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