BENGALURU, Oct. 1 -- Candidates allegedly paid tens of lakhs of rupees for favourable selection in the Karnataka Public Service Commission's Veterinary Officers recruitment examination and were then made to sign over blank cheques and promissory notes to secure the unpaid balance, according to the Enforcement Directorate.

The agency, in an account of its investigation released on Wednesday, said the amount initially demanded from candidates was around Rs.80 lakh but was later negotiated to between Rs.30 lakh and Rs.40 lakh each. Part of the money was collected in advance through cash and bank transfers, while blank signed cheques and promissory notes were obtained from some candidates for the remaining amounts.

The ED said some of those...