The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission chairman Taman Singh Sonwani and others in an alleged recruitment irregularity case. The probe relates to the 2020 and 2021 CGPSC State Service Examinations and originated from cases registered by the Raipur Economic Offences Wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau. The ED alleges that more than ₹3 crore was collected as illegal gratification and that leaked examination material was used to influence candidate selection. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
CGPSC Scam Deepens as ED Files Money Laundering Chargesheet Against Taman Singh Sonwani
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a prosecution complaint under PMLA against former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, Chetan Borghariya and others in an alleged recruitment irregularity case.
The proceedings of the CGPSC scam have gained momentum after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering chargesheet against former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) chairman Taman Singh Sonwani and others.
The FIR has been filed by the prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with the alleged manipulation and irregularities in the CGPSC State Service Examinations.
The case pertains to the 2020 and 2021 exams, and the inquiry was initiated from an FIR filed by the Raipur Economic Offences Wing and the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The Central Bureau of Investigation then took over the investigation into the predicate offence and registered an FIR against Sonwani and others and filed its own chargesheets.
Investigation Traces Alleged Examination Manipulation
The ED said its probe has revealed that there are allegations of collection of illegal gratification of more than Rs 3 crore from candidates in lieu of being favoured in recruitment.
The agency named Utkarsh Chandrakar, the nephew of K K Chandravanshi, a former personal assistant to former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
The ED alleged that Chandrakar and others promised candidates that question papers could be accessed beforehand and selections could be made through alleged influence.
Some candidates were allegedly given leaked question papers before the examinations as part of the alleged recruitment manipulation, the agency said.
The leaked paper was allegedly circulated among the candidates who were assembled at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace in Raipur before the preliminary exam.
The ED further alleged that later the candidates were accommodated at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort, from where coaching was provided with the help of leaked material related to the mains examination.
The agency's account is part of its money laundering investigation, and the allegations are part of judicial proceedings that do not prove criminal liability by conviction.
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Taman Singh Sonwani and Chetan Borghariya Among Those Arrested
The ED has alleged that during his tenure as CGPSC chairman, Taman Singh Sonwani allegedly rigged recruitment processes to help the selection of relatives and other favoured candidates.
The agency had arrested Sonwani under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002 on July 25, 2026, during its probe into the alleged proceeds of crime.
Utkarsh Chandrakar was arrested on September 1, 2026, and Chetan Borghariya was arrested on September 11, under the same money laundering law.
The ED had identified Borghariya as then Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s Office, Chhattisgarh, and presently Additional Collector, Balrampur-Ramanujganj.
During its investigation into alleged question-paper leaks, the agency had separately conducted searches at five locations in Raipur, Durg and Jashpur on September 1.
That resulted in the seizure of documents, digital devices, financial records, property-related papers and other evidence deemed relevant to the investigation.
The ED had also provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 47 lakh belonging to Sonwani, Chandrakar and others.
Those properties were proceeds of crime identified during its investigation of the alleged recruitment irregularities and related money laundering allegations, the agency said.
Investigation Continues Into Alleged Recruitment Scam
The CGPSC controversy relates to allegations of irregularities in the examination process and recruitment procedure, and alleged misuse of influence in the state civil-service examinations held in 2020 and 2021.
The ED’s money laundering proceedings are related to the predicate criminal case, while the CBI investigation is on the predicate offences of alleged corruption and examination manipulation.
The filing of a prosecution complaint is another stage of the legal proceedings, but allegations contained in a case of an investigative agency are still subject to consideration by the competent court.
Sprouts News will track developments such as court cases, the reaction of the accused, further findings of investigations, and any subsequent action on properties allegedly connected to proceeds of crime.
Further investigation is still in progress by the ED, and more evidence, people, or financial transactions may come to light as the proceedings continue.
For now, the chargesheet is presenting the alleged CGPSC examination tampering and money laundering claims to the judicial process, where evidence and legal submissions will decide the next course of action.




















