CGPSC Recruitment Scam: CBI Raids Homes of 18 Candidates, Probes Call Records, Devices, and Bank Accounts Over 5 Years
Raipur
In a major development in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the homes of 18 candidates suspected of involvement in irregularities during the 2021 selection process. These raids, some of which lasted up to two days, took place on October 12.
During the operation, over 300 books and notebooks were examined, while mobile phones, computers, and laptops were scrutinized. Hard disks and pen drives were seized from some residences. Additionally, the bank accounts of both candidates and their family members are under investigation.
High-profile individuals linked to the case include Sumit Dhruv, son of PSC Secretary Jeevan Kishore; Neha and Nikhil, daughter and son of Amrit Xalxo, former Secretary to the Governor; DIG Dhruv’s daughter Sakshi; Ananya Agarwal, daughter of a Congress leader; and Shashank Goyal, the son-in-law of another Congress leader. Khushbu Bijoora, the daughter of a minister’s OSD’s brother-in-law, was also questioned.
The CBI is digging into five years’ worth of call records and location data of both the candidates and PSC officials. Investigators also visited the printing press responsible for preparing the exam papers, recording statements from the press owner and employees.
Raids were conducted at the residence of then-PSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani and several of his family members. Other prominent figures targeted include the children of Congress leaders Rajendra Kaushik, Rajendra Shukla, and Meenakshi Ganveer. Extensive questioning of the candidates took place, and all 18 suspects are expected to be summoned for further interrogation at the CBI office.
This follows earlier raids two months ago at the PSC office in Naya Raipur, where the CBI seized documents and computers related to the recruitment exams. These materials, including the OMR sheets of selected candidates, are now undergoing forensic analysis.
The investigation is focused on the composition of the interview boards used during the selection process. Three boards were formed for the interviews, one chaired by Taman Singh. The CBI is investigating whether certain boards selected a disproportionate number of candidates and if any connections exist between board members and the candidates. Google location histories and WhatsApp conversations from the past five years are being scrutinized.
The controversy revolves around CGPSC recruitments from 2019 to 2022, with allegations that then-chairman Sonwani facilitated the selection of his relatives and the children of Congress leaders and bureaucrats. Cases of corruption and irregularities have been filed by the EOW and Arjunda Police. The 2020 and 2021 exams for 175 and 171 posts, respectively, are central to the investigation.
