Chhattisgarh: ED raids seven locations in state in CGPSC case
Among the premises searched by the agency was that of KK Chandrakar, who served as a personal assistant to former CM Bhupesh Baghel
On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed searches at seven locations across Chhattisgarh, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the 2021 recruitment examination conducted by the CGPSC. The searches, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted various premises, including the residence of KK Chandrakar, who previously served as a personal assistant to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The ED's investigation centers around accusations of favoritism, manipulation, and corruption within the CGPSC recruitment process, particularly concerning the selection of candidates for high-ranking government positions through the 2021 State Service Examination. Suspicions arose that relatives and associates of influential individuals, including senior officials, had received preferential treatment during the recruitment process.
This matter has prompted a broader probe into the operations of the CGPSC, as well as the conduct of its former chairman, Taman Singh Sonwani, and other officials connected to the commission. Sonwani faced arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in July, as part of the investigation into alleged corruption, question paper leaks, and manipulation of state service examinations. He was previously apprehended by the CBI in 2024, according to news agency PTI.
In a statement released on July 27, the ED alleged that Sonwani, while serving as CGPSC chairman, colluded with other public servants and private individuals to leak question papers and manipulate the selection process in return for illicit benefits. The objective was to ensure the fraudulent selection of his relatives and other favored candidates for prominent public roles, such as deputy collector and deputy superintendent of police.
The recruitment rules were amended in 2021 to exclude the term "nephew" from the definition of "family," ostensibly to promote the selection of Sonwani's relatives.
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