Chhattisgarh Scam: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against the former chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) and others in connection with an alleged ‘nepotism’ racket in which ‘undeserving’ family members of politicians, PSC officials and public servants were recruited in lucrative government jobs during the Congress rule in the state.
Former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, former secretary Jeevan Kishor Dhruv and an examination controller have been booked for allegedly helping their sons, daughters, relatives and acquaintances move ahead in the merit list to ensure recruitment to posts of deputy collector, deputy SP and other such posts, officials said.
As per procedure, the agency re-registered the FIR
It is alleged that there was manipulation in the 2022 CGPSC exam, the results of which were declared on May 11, 2023. The investigating agency on Monday (July 15) raided the residential premises of Sonwani, Dhruv and others in Raipur and Bhilai. The CBI took over the investigation on a reference from the Chhattisgarh government dated February 16.
A CBI spokesperson said that as per procedure, the agency re-registered the FIR, which was earlier investigated by the Economic Offences Wing of the state police. In the assembly elections held in Chhattisgarh in November 2023, the BJP ousted the Congress from power. The FIR alleges that family members of prominent leaders, including high-ranking government officials and leaders of the state’s ruling party, were the main beneficiaries of the recruitment.
It is alleged that five members of Sonwani’s family were beneficiaries in the recruitment process. Among them, son Nitesh and daughter-in-law Nisha Kosle were appointed as Deputy Collector, elder brother’s son Sahil as Deputy SP, daughter-in-law Deepa Adil as District Excise Officer and sister’s daughter Sunita Joshi as Labour Officer. A CBI spokesperson said, ‘It is also alleged that the then Secretary of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (Dhruv) got his son (Sumit) selected for the post of Deputy District Magistrate.’
The FIR contains the names of many important people
The complaint, which is now part of the CBI FIR, alleges that candidates who made it to the merit list from serial number 1-171 are allegedly connected to government officials, politicians and influential persons. It lists deputy collectors including Chhattisgarh Governor’s secretary Amrit Kumar’s son Nikhil and daughter Neha, Bastar Naxal operation DIG P L Dhruv’s daughter Sakshi, a Congress leader’s daughter Ananya Agarwal, senior Congress leader Sudhir Katiyar’s daughter Bhumika Katiyar and son-in-law Shashank Goyal, Congress leader Rajendra Shukla’s daughter Swarnim Shukla and a senior Congress leader’s son Rajendra Kumar Kaushik.
The complaint alleged that relatives of associates of the Congress leader, including Pragya Nayak, who was selected as deputy collector, Prakhar Nayak, who was selected as financial services officer, and Khushboo Bijoura, who was selected as deputy collector, were also beneficiaries of the alleged scam.
The complaint alleged that if a relative of an officer of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission appears in the exam, the person concerned has to recuse himself from the process after informing other members and officers of the commission, which Sonwani did not do. It is alleged that Sonwani violated the rules and selected his family members and relatives of other officers and influential persons, which is considered ‘corruption’.
The complaint alleges that ‘the candidates who scored good marks in the examination are relatives of PSC officials, government officials and politicians. The complaint alleges that this shows that the exam paper was made available to the candidates in advance, which helped them score good marks and get good ranks in the results.’
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