The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches at seven locations across Chhattisgarh as part of its money-laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment process. One of the premises searched was linked to K K Chandrakar, who served as a personal assistant to former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, officials said. 

The searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). As of the latest reports, the Enforcement Directorate has not disclosed details of any seizures, arrests or recoveries made during Tuesday's operation.

The action comes as the agency continues to investigate alleged corruption, question-paper leaks and manipulation in CGPSC State Service Examinations conducted in 2020 and 2021.

Seven locations searched across Chhattisgarh

According to officials, ED teams carried out searches at seven locations in the state on Tuesday. The premises of K K Chandrakar, a former PA to Bhupesh Baghel, were among the locations covered by the operation. 

Reports from Bhilai said an ED team reached Chandrakar's residence early in the morning and examined documents and other material. Security personnel were also deployed around the premises during the search.

Details about the other locations have not been officially disclosed in the latest ED information available.

Probe linked to alleged CGPSC recruitment irregularities

The ED investigation relates to allegations of corruption and manipulation in the recruitment process conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission.

The agency's money-laundering case originated from a 2024 FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The underlying allegations include question-paper leaks and manipulation of the selection process in the 2020 and 2021 CGPSC State Service Examinations. 

The investigation has focused on allegations that candidates and relatives of influential individuals benefited from irregularities in the recruitment process.

Former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani arrested

The latest searches follow the ED's arrest of former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani on July 25, 2026.

According to the ED's official records, Sonwani was arrested under the PMLA in connection with the case involving alleged corruption, question-paper leaks and manipulation of the CGPSC State Service Examinations held in 2020 and 2021. He was subsequently produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Raipur. 

The agency has alleged that Sonwani facilitated the leakage of examination papers and manipulation of the selection process in exchange for illegal gratification. Investigators are examining the alleged financial transactions connected with the recruitment irregularities.

CBI case preceded ED investigation

The money-laundering probe is based on the CBI case registered in 2024. The CBI had earlier investigated allegations of irregularities in CGPSC recruitment and arrested Sonwani in connection with the case.

The ED subsequently began examining the alleged proceeds of crime and financial transactions associated with the recruitment-related allegations.

According to information cited by investigators, the alleged irregularities relate to recruitment examinations conducted during the period when Sonwani headed the commission.

ED yet to disclose search findings

While the searches are underway, the agency has not yet released a detailed statement on what was found at the seven premises.

Therefore, claims regarding specific recoveries, financial transactions or the involvement of individual persons should not be treated as established unless confirmed by the ED or another investigating authority.

The outcome of Tuesday's searches is expected to provide further details about the agency's investigation and the alleged financial trail connected with the CGPSC case.

The investigation remains ongoing, and allegations made by investigating agencies are subject to further legal proceedings and judicial determination.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has rejected the bail plea of former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) Secretary and retired IAS officer Jeevan Kishore Dhruv, who is accused in the alleged 2021 CGPSC recruitment scam and paper leak case.

Dismissing the plea, Justice B.D. Guru observed that leaking question papers of competitive examinations and compromising the future of lakhs of young aspirants is a crime "graver than murder." The court remarked that while murder devastates a single family, a paper leak destroys the trust of an entire generation in the examination system.

Court Makes Strong Observation

The single-judge bench made the observation while refusing interim relief to Dhruv, who has been in judicial custody since September 18, 2025.

According to the court, the integrity of public recruitment examinations is vital for maintaining public confidence in government institutions. Any attempt to manipulate the selection process strikes at the foundation of fairness and meritocracy.

Allegations Against Former Secretary

The case relates to alleged irregularities in the CGPSC 2021 recruitment process, in which former CGPSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, former Secretary Jeevan Kishore Dhruv, and several other officials have been accused of favouring relatives and selected candidates during recruitment.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case, stated that Dhruv assumed charge as CGPSC Secretary on October 6, 2020, and the recruitment notification for the 2021 examination was issued under his signature.

Investigators allege that he misused his official position to obtain confidential main examination question papers before the examination and passed them on to his son, Sumit Dhruv, who was later selected as a Deputy Collector.

CBI Claims Documentary Evidence

During searches at Dhruv's residence in Bhilai, the CBI reportedly recovered several documents linked to the examination.

According to the agency, investigators found answers to 42 out of 47 questions from the General Studies Paper-VII, along with answer sheets related to the essay paper.

The probe also found that four topics allegedly prepared in advance by Sumit Dhruv—including cryptocurrency, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, development of Dantewada district, and the Chhattisgarh Tonhi Harassment Prevention Act—were among the essay questions asked in the examination.

The CBI has argued that these recoveries, along with witness statements, support allegations of criminal conspiracy and abuse of official position.

Defence Arguments Rejected

Seeking bail, the defence argued that Jeevan Kishore Dhruv had been falsely implicated solely because he served as CGPSC Secretary. It was submitted that his name did not appear in the original FIR and that he had informed the commission in advance about his sons appearing in the examination while recusing himself from confidential work.

The defence also pointed out that the investigation had been completed and the CBI had already filed its charge sheet.

However, the CBI opposed the plea, maintaining that Dhruv occupied a constitutional public office entrusted with safeguarding the confidentiality of the examination process. The agency argued that the evidence collected during investigation was substantial and warranted continued custody.

Background of the CGPSC Recruitment Scam

The alleged scam relates to recruitment examinations conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission between 2020 and 2022.

Investigators claim that transparency was compromised during written examinations and interviews, enabling candidates linked to politically and administratively influential families to secure appointments to key government posts, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and other gazetted positions.

The state government later handed over the investigation to the CBI, which has conducted multiple searches and recovered documents forming the basis of the ongoing prosecution.

The 2021 CGPSC recruitment drive was conducted for 171 vacancies. The preliminary examination was held on February 13, 2022, followed by the mains examination between May 26 and May 29, 2022. The final selection list of 170 candidates was published on May 11, 2023.

Investigations into the recruitment process remain underway, while separate financial probes linked to the alleged scam are also being pursued by enforcement agencies.

Student protesters demanding action over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment examinations have agreed in principle to hold talks with the state government but have insisted that Chief Minister Hemant Soren personally attend the meeting in the presence of the media.

The development comes as the student agitation entered its second week, with several protesters continuing an indefinite hunger strike while demanding a CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the alleged recruitment scam involving the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and other examinations.

Students Set Conditions for Dialogue

Student leader Ravindra Paswan, who is leading the protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, said government officials approached the protesters with a proposal for talks on Wednesday.

According to Paswan, the students have accepted the invitation but want the discussions to be held publicly with Chief Minister Hemant Soren present and at least two media representatives allowed to witness the proceedings.

He said officials have sought the names of student representatives, after which the government is expected to finalise the date and venue for the meeting.

The protesters also alleged that limiting discussions to a small delegation could weaken the movement and dilute their demands.

Hunger Strike Continues

Six student leaders, including Devendra Nath Mahto, remain on an indefinite hunger strike over the alleged examination irregularities.

Earlier, environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk spoke to Mahto through a video call and appealed to him to consume water considering his deteriorating health.

Following Wangchuk's appeal, Mahto ended his waterless fast but continued his indefinite hunger strike, saying the agitation would continue until concrete action is announced.

Five More Arrested in Probe

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) intensified its investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities.

Late Wednesday night, investigators arrested five more accused, including Rakshak Singh, an accountant associated with TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL), the outsourced agency that conducted the examination.

With the latest arrests, the total number of people taken into custody in the case has risen to 19.

How the Controversy Began

The controversy surfaced after the Jharkhand Public Service Commission declared the results of the 14th Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination on July 2, with 2,204 candidates qualifying for the mains examination.

Soon after the results were announced, candidates alleged multiple irregularities, including the absence of officially declared cut-off marks.

An alleged OMR sheet circulated on social media further fuelled the controversy. Protesters claimed the candidate had attempted only 48 questions but was still shortlisted for the mains examination.

Questions were also raised over the result notification, with candidates alleging that it did not carry the signatures of JPSC officials.

Amid mounting criticism, the Commission cancelled the scheduled mains examination.

Government Forms Ministerial Committee

In an effort to resolve the impasse, the Jharkhand government has constituted a four-member ministerial committee to engage with the protesters.

The panel comprises Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh, Welfare Minister Chamra Linda, and Industries Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren held a meeting with the ministers before extending the invitation for dialogue. Although discussions were initiated, no breakthrough was achieved on Wednesday.

The students have reiterated that they are willing to negotiate but insist the Chief Minister participate directly and publicly address their concerns.

 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the alleged Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam after former CGPSC chairman Taman Sonwani was produced before a special court on Friday. The court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody, allowing the agency to expand its probe into the alleged money laundering and financial transactions linked to the case.

The ED is now expected to investigate the alleged money trail, examine financial transactions, and identify individuals who may have benefited from the recruitment process through illegal means.

CBI Earlier Arrested Sonwani

Before the ED's action, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Taman Sonwani and a Raipur-based businessman in connection with the alleged recruitment irregularities.

Investigating agencies have alleged that the recruitment process for several gazetted posts, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and other state civil services positions, was manipulated to favour relatives of influential political and bureaucratic figures.

Question Paper Allegedly Shared at Official Residence

According to the CBI's investigation, the recruitment examination question paper was allegedly made available to selected candidates at Sonwani's official residence before the examination.

The agency further claims that the paper was subsequently passed through former Deputy Examination Controller Lalit Ganveer to a businessman. The businessman’s son and daughter-in-law allegedly prepared using the leaked paper and were later selected as Deputy Collectors.

These allegations remain under investigation.

ED to Summon More Individuals

The alleged irregularities relate to the CGPSC State Service Examination 2021, conducted for 171 vacancies.

Following allegations of paper leaks, favouritism and manipulation in the recruitment process, the Chhattisgarh government transferred the investigation to the CBI. With the ED now examining the financial aspect of the case, several individuals suspected of being linked to the money trail are likely to receive notices for questioning in the coming days.

Officials said the investigation will focus on identifying illegal financial transactions connected to the recruitment process and uncovering any broader network involved in the alleged scam.

Background of the Recruitment Controversy

The alleged scam pertains to recruitment conducted by CGPSC between 2020 and 2022. Investigators suspect that transparency in written examinations and interviews was compromised to facilitate the selection of candidates linked to politically influential and senior administrative families.

The recruitment process has been under scrutiny for allegedly overlooking deserving candidates while favouring selected individuals for prestigious government positions.

Recruitment Timeline

The CGPSC State Service Examination 2021 was conducted to fill 171 posts.

• Preliminary Examination: 13 February 2022

• Qualified for Mains: 2,565 candidates

• Main Examination: 26–29 May 2022

• Qualified for Interview: 509 candidates

• Final Selection List Released: 11 May 2023

• Total Selected Candidates: 170

The CBI has already filed multiple charge sheets in the case, naming several accused and alleging widespread irregularities in the recruitment process. The ED's investigation is expected to complement the criminal probe by tracing alleged proceeds of crime and financial transactions associated with the scam.

 The investigation into the alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) 2021 recruitment examination has expanded to include suspected money laundering, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiating a parallel probe into financial transactions linked to the case.

Investigating agencies suspect the alleged recruitment scam may involve corruption exceeding ₹500 crore, with allegations that candidates paid huge sums to secure appointments to prestigious government posts, including Deputy Collector, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and other administrative services.

ED Begins Money Laundering Investigation

The ED has started examining the financial trail following the ongoing probe against former CGPSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani.

According to the investigation, evidence has emerged suggesting alleged laundering of ₹47 lakh, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly uncovered evidence indicating collections of around ₹1.3 crore linked to recruitment-related transactions.

Officials are now examining whether the funds were routed through charitable and institutional channels to conceal their origin.

₹47 Lakh Allegedly Routed as CSR Donation

Investigators allege that ₹47 lakh was transferred to an organisation named Gramin Vikas Samiti in exchange for facilitating the selection of the son and daughter-in-law of a power plant director.

The agency claims that most members of the organisation were either relatives or close associates of former CGPSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani. His wife, Padmini Singh Sonwani, reportedly served as the chairperson of the organisation.

The probe further alleges that the money was shown as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) donation for a college that investigators claim did not actually exist. The ED is examining these transactions under provisions related to money laundering.

₹1.3 Crore Allegedly Collected From Candidates

According to the CBI charge sheet, coaching institute operator Utkarsh Chandrakar allegedly collected nearly ₹1.3 crore from aspirants by promising access to the mains examination question paper and assured selection.

Investigators said Chandrakar has been absconding since his name surfaced during the investigation. His anticipatory bail has already been cancelled by the High Court, and the ED is now attempting to trace his whereabouts.

More Recruitment Exams Under Scanner

Investigating agencies have widened the scope of the probe beyond the CGPSC-2021 recruitment, examining alleged irregularities in more than 12 recruitment examinations conducted during Sonwani's tenure, including recruitment for Assistant Professor and other government posts.

The CGPSC-2021 examination was conducted to fill 171 vacancies. The preliminary examination was held on February 13, 2022, in which 2,565 candidates qualified. The mains examination took place between May 26 and 29, 2022, followed by interviews, after which the final selection list of 170 candidates was released on May 11, 2023.

Allegations of High-Value Bribes

Investigators allege that candidates seeking appointments to senior posts such as Deputy Collector and DSP were asked to pay between ₹75 lakh and ₹1 crore per post.

The probe has also raised allegations that relatives of former officials, political leaders and senior bureaucrats received undue advantage during the recruitment process. These allegations remain under investigation.

Twenty-Nine Named as Accused

The CBI has named 29 individuals in the case, including former CGPSC Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, former Secretary J.K. Dhruv, former Examination Controller Aarti Vasanik, Deputy Examination Controller Lalit Ganvir, industrialist Shravan Kumar Goyal, his son Shashank Goyal, daughter-in-law Bhumika Kataria, Sonwani's son Nitesh Sonwani, relatives and several other accused, including absconding coaching operator Utkarsh Chandrakar.

Both the CBI and the ED continue to investigate the alleged recruitment scam, financial transactions and suspected money laundering linked to the case.

 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.