Former IAS Officer Yogesh Kumar Arrested in Livestock Recruitment Scam in Uttar Pradesh
Yogesh Kumar, a retired IAS officer, was arrested in connection with a livestock recruitment scam in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting serious irregularities.
Lucknow, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant development in Uttar Pradesh, Yogesh Kumar, a retired IAS officer and former principal secretary, was arrested by the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) on October 14, 2026. His arrest relates to the 2014 livestock recruitment scam, where he allegedly failed to adhere to recruitment regulations and was implicated in irregularities during the evaluation of OMR sheets and the preparation of merit lists.
Kumar was apprehended in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. At the time of the scam, he served as the principal secretary in the Animal Husbandry Department. The recruitment process aimed to fill 1,198 vacancies for livestock extension officers across 17 divisions, excluding Saharanpur. A written examination was conducted on February 2, 2014, but it is alleged that the process did not comply with the established service regulations.
The EOW’s investigation revealed that the centralized evaluation of OMR sheets was improperly assigned to the Feroz Gandhi Institute in Raebareli, which exceeded the jurisdiction of the regional selection committees. Allegations include tampering with OMR sheets, which disadvantaged eligible candidates while benefiting ineligible ones.
In 2017, the government transferred the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Following the inquiry, the SIT filed a case in 2019, charging Kumar and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B, and 201, along with Section 13(1)(D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case has implicated a total of 28 individuals, including six named defendants and 22 others identified during the investigation. Chargesheets have already been filed against 25 of the accused on different dates.
Kumar’s arrest is viewed as a crucial step in addressing the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process. Legal actions will proceed as part of the ongoing investigation and prosecution efforts.
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