Raipur, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has filed a chargesheet before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s Office Chetan Borghariya and others in connection with the alleged money-laundering offences linked to the CGPSC recruitment scam.
According to the ED, its investigation stems from an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB), Raipur, concerning alleged corruption, manipulation and irregularities in the CGPSC State Service Examinations held in 2020 and 2021.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently took over the probe into the predicate offence, registered an FIR against Sonwani and others and filed chargesheets.
The ED said its investigation found that Utkarsh Chandrakar and his associates allegedly collected more than Rs 3 crore in illegal gratification from candidates appearing for the 2021 CGPSC State Service Examination. The agency alleged that the money was taken on assurances that candidates would receive question papers in advance and secure selection through purported access to and influence within the then Chief Minister’s Office.
According to the agency, leaked question papers were provided to selected candidates before the examinations. Candidates were allegedly brought together at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace in Raipur before the Preliminary Examination, where the leaked papers were distributed. They were subsequently accommodated at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort, where they allegedly received coaching for the Mains Examination based on the leaked material.
The ED further alleged that Sonwani, while serving as CGPSC chairman, manipulated the recruitment process to favour relatives and other preferred candidates.
The agency had earlier issued a provisional attachment order covering movable and immovable properties worth Rs 47 lakh belonging to Sonwani, Chandrakar and others identified during the investigation.
Sonwani was arrested on July 25, 2026, Chandrakar on September 1 and Borghariya on September 11 under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002.
The ED said further investigation in the case is continuing.
FOLLOW NOW
