ED files PMLA chargesheet in Chhattisgarh PSC recruitment scam
Synopsis
The ED has formally charged the former CGPSC Chairman and a chief minister's office aide in a sprawling recruitment fraud — where leaked papers were reportedly distributed at a marriage hall and a wildlife resort, and over ₹3 crore in bribes allegedly changed hands to rig Chhattisgarh's civil services exams.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a PMLA chargesheet before a Special Court in the Chhattisgarh PSC recruitment scam .
Accused include Taman Singh Sonwani (ex-CGPSC Chairman) and Chetan Borghariya (then OSD in the chief minister's office).
Utkarsh Chandrakar and associates allegedly collected illegal gratification exceeding ₹3 crore from candidates in the 2021 CGPSC State Service Examination .
Leaked papers were reportedly distributed at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace , Raipur; coaching on leaked material was held at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort .
Properties worth ₹47 lakh have been provisionally attached; all three key accused were arrested between July and September 2026 .
The CBI is separately investigating the predicate offence and has also filed chargesheets.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, has filed a chargesheet before a Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam. The accused named in the chargesheet include Taman Singh Sonwani, the then Chairman of the CGPSC, and Chetan Borghariya, who served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the chief minister's office, among others.
Background and Scope of the Scam
The ED's investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau, Raipur, into alleged large-scale corruption, manipulation, and irregularities in the CGPSC State Service Examinations of 2020 and 2021. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently took over the probe into the predicate offence, registered its own FIR against Sonwani and others, and filed chargesheets separately.
According to the ED, accused Utkarsh Chandrakar and his associates allegedly collected illegal gratification exceeding ₹3 crore from candidates appearing in the 2021 CGPSC State Service Examination. The money was purportedly accepted on the assurance of supplying question papers in advance and securing selections through alleged access to and influence within the then chief minister's office.
How the Alleged Fraud Was Executed
Investigators found that leaked question papers were reportedly distributed to selected candidates prior to the examinations. Candidates were allegedly assembled at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace in Raipur ahead of the Preliminary Examination, where the leaked papers were handed out. Subsequently, candidates were housed at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort, where coaching based on the leaked material for the Mains Examination was reportedly imparted.
The ED further alleged that Sonwani, while serving as CGPSC Chairman, manipulated the recruitment process to favour his relatives and other preferred candidates — raising serious questions about institutional integrity in the state's civil services selection machinery.
Properties Attached and Arrests Made
The ED had earlier issued a provisional attachment order against movable and immovable properties worth ₹47 lakh belonging to Sonwani, Chandrakar, and others identified during the probe. All three key accused have since been arrested under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002: Sonwani on 25 July 2026, Chandrakar on 1 September 2026, and Borghariya on 11 September 2026.
What Happens Next
The ED has stated that further investigation in the case is ongoing. With the chargesheet now filed before the Special Court, the matter moves into the formal prosecution phase. The case is among several recruitment fraud investigations being pursued in central Indian states and underscores mounting scrutiny of the integrity of public service selection processes across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chhattisgarh PSC recruitment scam?
The scam involves alleged large-scale corruption and manipulation in the CGPSC State Service Examinations of 2020 and 2021. Accused individuals reportedly collected over ₹3 crore in bribes from candidates in exchange for leaked question papers and assured selections.
Who has been charged in the ED's PMLA chargesheet?
The ED chargesheet names Taman Singh Sonwani (then CGPSC Chairman), Chetan Borghariya (then OSD in the chief minister's office), Utkarsh Chandrakar, and others. All three key accused have been arrested under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002.
How were the leaked question papers allegedly distributed?
According to the ED, candidates were gathered at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace in Raipur before the Preliminary Examination, where leaked papers were distributed. They were later accommodated at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort for coaching based on the leaked material ahead of the Mains Examination.
What assets has the ED attached in this case?
The ED issued a provisional attachment order covering movable and immovable properties worth ₹47 lakh belonging to Sonwani, Chandrakar, and others identified during the investigation.
What is the current status of the case?
With the PMLA chargesheet now filed before the Special Court, the case has entered the formal prosecution phase. The CBI is separately pursuing the predicate offence and has also filed chargesheets. The ED has stated that further investigation is ongoing.
