In a breakthrough corruption case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested former Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) Chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, a 2004-batch IAS officer, exposing deep-seated nepotism and bribery within the state’s recruitment process. The investigation has revealed a systematic abuse of power, with Sonwani allegedly manipulating merit lists and bypassing recruitment protocols to appoint family members and others close to him in key government roles.
Specific allegations include Sonwani appointing his son as Deputy Collector, his nephew as Deputy Superintendent of Police, and various other relatives in positions like Labor Officer and District Excise Officer. Further investigations revealed that Sonwani accepted a bribe of Rs 45 lakh from Shravan Kumar Goyal, Director of Bajrang Power and Ispat Ltd, in two installments to secure Deputy Collector roles for Goyal’s son, Sashank, and daughter-in-law, Bhumika Kataria.
The scandal, rooted in the 2021 CGPSC examination, has fueled political tensions and youth protests, especially during the 2023 state elections. It has become a key issue for opposition parties, with the BJP using it as a campaign plank to challenge the integrity of state governance and advocate for transparent recruitment practices.
