The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a major step in the ongoing investigation into the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment controversy by arresting senior administrative officer Chetan Borgharia. Currently posted as the Additional Collector of Balrampur-Ramanujganj district, Borgharia previously served as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) during the tenure of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Following his arrest, the agency produced him before a special court in Raipur, which granted the ED a six-day custodial remand for detailed interrogation.
Digital Evidence and WhatsApp Chats Drive Arrest
According to the investigation details presented before the court, the agency uncovered key digital evidence involving Chetan Borgharia and another accused individual named Utkarsh Chandrakar. Suspicious WhatsApp conversations between the two revealed critical details regarding monetary transactions and undue favors granted during the selection process. The ED cited these retrieved electronic records as the primary ground for seeking custodial interrogation to dismantle the broader financial network behind the examination scandal.
Background of the 2021 and 2022 Examination Scam
The controversy stems from the state service examinations conducted by the CGPSC for 171 administrative posts during 2021 and 2022. At the time of the examinations, the Congress party was in power with Bhupesh Baghel serving as Chief Minister, while Taman Singh Sonwani held the post of CGPSC Chairman. Serious allegations surfaced regarding wide-scale corruption, paper leaks, nepotism, and financial bribery aimed at benefiting candidates affiliated with influential figures while bypassing merit-based candidates.
Extensive Interrogation to Target Key Influence Peddlers
During the six-day remand period, investigators plan to interrogate Chetan Borgharia regarding the mechanics of candidate selection, administrative pressure points, and the financial channels utilized during the scam. The recruitment process had sparked widespread anger among job aspirants and students across Chhattisgarh, who alleged that diligent candidates were sidelined to accommodate well-connected applicants. The arrest of a senior bureaucrat who served in a high-profile administrative capacity signals a significant expansion in the scope of the ED investigation toward top officials and former administrative decision-makers.
