Raipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Chetan Borghariya, a Chhattisgarh State Civil Service officer and former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a money-laundering investigation linked to alleged irregularities in the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) examinations of 2020 and 2021.
Borghariya, who is currently serving as Additional Collector of Balrampur-Ramanujganj, was arrested on September 11 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A special PMLA court in Raipur subsequently remanded him to six days of ED custody.
Who Is Chetan Borghariya?
Chetan Borghariya is a 2015-batch State Civil Service (SCS) officer of Chhattisgarh. Election Commission records list him as an SCS officer of the 2015 batch, while a Chhattisgarh government officer list records his educational qualifications as B.A. and B.Tech.
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He served as an Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s Office between 2019 and 2022, during the tenure of then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. He is currently posted as Additional Collector in Balrampur-Ramanujganj district.
Why Was Borghariya Arrested?
The ED’s money-laundering investigation stems from allegations of corruption, question-paper leaks and manipulation in the CGPSC State Service Examinations 2020 and 2021. The CBI had earlier taken over the underlying investigation from the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing and filed chargesheets against former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani and others.
According to the ED, Utkarsh Chandrakar, Anil Chandrakar and Vikash Chandrakar allegedly collected more than ₹3 crore from candidates for the 2021 examination by promising advance access to question papers and assistance in securing selection.
The agency has alleged that Borghariya’s name and position as OSD in the CMO were used in connection with such assurances. It further claimed that digital evidence, banking records and statements indicated his alleged involvement in activities connected with the proceeds of crime.
Evidence Cited By ED
The agency has pointed to a financial trail and digital evidence gathered during the investigation.
Key allegations and evidence cited by ED include:
- Cash deposits of around ₹66.64 lakh through 170 transactions in Borghariya’s bank account during the relevant period.
- Financial transactions between Borghariya and accused Utkarsh Chandrakar.
- Digital devices, including mobile phones, seized during searches of Borghariya’s premises on September 1.
- Transactions involving Figurecave E-Com (OPC) Pvt Ltd, which ED suspects was used for layering and movement of alleged proceeds of crime.
The ED said forensic examination of seized devices also revealed communications between Borghariya and Utkarsh Chandrakar concerning financial transactions and payments.
How Was the CGPSC Paper Leak Allegedly Carried Out?
The ED has alleged that selected candidates were provided leaked question papers before the examinations.
According to the agency, candidates were allegedly brought to Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Palace in Raipur before the preliminary examination, where the leaked paper was distributed. For the mains examination, they were allegedly accommodated at Barnawapara Sanctuary Resort, where coaching was provided based on leaked papers.
The ED has alleged that the wider network involved illegal gratification of more than ₹3 crore from candidates seeking advance access to papers and assistance with selection.
What Happens Next?
Borghariya was produced before the Special PMLA Court in Raipur following his arrest and was remanded to six days of ED custody for further questioning. The agency’s investigation into the alleged money trail and the wider CGPSC examination irregularities is continuing.
The allegations against Borghariya and the other accused are part of an ongoing investigation and have not been established as guilt by a court.
