Justice B.D. Guru, while dismissing the second bail pleas, observed that the alleged scam had caused deep damage to public trust in the recruitment system. The court ruled that prolonged judicial custody alone was not sufficient ground for granting bail, especially when the investigation was still ongoing and the charges were of grave nature.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in CGPSC examinations conducted between 2020 and 2022. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the matter, has accused senior officials of leaking question papers and manipulating the selection process to benefit relatives and influential individuals.
According to the CBI, Sonwani misused his official position to facilitate unfair selections. Investigators have alleged that ₹45 lakh was routed as CSR funds from a private company to an NGO headed by Sonwani’s wife, allegedly in exchange for leaked question papers. The agency further claimed that Vasanik and Ganveer played key roles in supplying leaked papers to businessman Shravan Goyal, whose son and daughter-in-law were later selected as deputy collectors.
Opposing the bail pleas, the CBI argued that the accused were active participants in a well-planned conspiracy that compromised the integrity of the state’s top recruitment body. The agency said further investigation was required to uncover the full extent of the scam and identify other beneficiaries.
The defence argued that the accused were innocent, the investigation was nearing completion, and several co-accused had already been granted bail. They also cited Supreme Court precedents to seek parity. However, the High Court rejected these arguments, stating that the material on record suggested a prima facie case and that granting bail at this stage would not be appropriate.
CBI investigations have revealed that more than 13 of the top 20 candidates selected in the CGPSC 2021 examination were relatives of politicians, senior officials, or influential businessmen. The examination was conducted for 171 posts, including deputy collectors and deputy superintendents of police.
With the filing of the final charge sheet, trial proceedings are expected to begin soon. The court’s order is seen as a significant setback for the accused and a critical moment in one of the most serious recruitment scandals in the state’s history.
