The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally entered the investigation into the alleged Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam, shifting the focus to suspected money laundering linked to the recruitment process. The agency has arrested former CGPSC chairman and retired IAS officer Taman Singh Sonwani, who was already in judicial custody in the case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A special court in Raipur on Saturday granted the ED seven days of custodial remand, allowing the agency to question Sonwani until July 31. Investigators are expected to probe the alleged financial transactions, illicit proceeds and the network of individuals suspected of benefiting from the recruitment process.

ED Probes Alleged Financial Trail

Appearing for the ED, advocate Saurabh Pandey told the court that the investigation had uncovered allegations that money was collected in exchange for the selection of candidates in the CGPSC recruitment process.

According to the ED, a Rural Development Committee was allegedly used as a channel for financial transactions. The agency claimed that ₹45 lakh was transferred from Bajrang Power Limited to the committee's account through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

The ED further alleged that most members of the committee were either relatives or close associates of Sonwani, and that the committee was used to facilitate financial transactions linked to the recruitment process.

CBI Had Earlier Arrested Sonwani

The CBI had arrested Sonwani nearly two years ago in connection with alleged irregularities in the CGPSC recruitment process. Along with him, Shravan Kumar Goyal, director of Bajrang Power and Ispat Limited, was also arrested.

The CBI alleges that influential individuals paid money to secure the selection of their relatives for prestigious government posts, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and other gazetted positions.

Allegations of Favouritism

According to the CBI, large-scale irregularities occurred during Sonwani's tenure as CGPSC chairman. Investigators have alleged that relatives of senior politicians, bureaucrats and other influential individuals were favoured during the recruitment process.

The agency claims to have gathered documentary evidence indicating financial transactions connected to the alleged manipulation of selections.

Paper Leak Allegations

The CBI investigation alleges that confidential examination papers were first taken to Sonwani's residence, where copies were allegedly made before being resealed and returned for printing.

Investigators claim that leaked question papers were later passed through intermediaries to Shravan Goyal, whose son and daughter-in-law allegedly prepared using the leaked material before both were selected as Deputy Collectors.

The agency has maintained that these allegations form part of a larger conspiracy involving examination officials and private individuals.

Recruitment Process Under Scrutiny

The alleged scam relates to CGPSC recruitment conducted between 2020 and 2022. Authorities suspect that transparency in the examination and interview process was compromised to favour candidates linked to politically and administratively influential families.

The examination was conducted to fill 171 government posts. The preliminary examination was held in February 2022, followed by the mains examination in May 2022. The final selection list of 170 candidates was published in May 2023.

Investigation Continues

With the ED now examining the financial dimension of the alleged scam, investigators are expected to focus on tracing the flow of funds, identifying beneficiaries and determining whether proceeds of crime were generated through the recruitment process.

The allegations remain under investigation. The guilt or innocence of the accused will be determined through the judicial process.