Chhattisgarh recruitment scam: legal rules changed to help nephews, says CBI

Is a nephew ‘family’ or ‘relative’? This distinction is important in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) scam.

In its affidavit filed before the Raipur court on January 16, the organization said former CGSPC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani changed the word ‘relative’ to ‘family’ in the notification for the 2021 CGSC examination. This, said the organization. , it is done in such a way that Mr. Sonwani continued to participate in the process of examination to be suspected of influencing the appointment of his nephews.

Mr. Sonwani and his former colleagues in the CGPSC were accused of using their positions recklessly to get elected. The indictment names him and six others, including two of his nephews, as suspects. They are all in judicial custody.

The former chairman is accused of giving CGPSC question papers to his nephews Nitesh and Sahil who were appointed as deputy collector and deputy superintendent of police. They are accused of sharing question papers with other students to get money transferred to Gramin Vikas Samiti, a registered society with Mr. Sonwani Padmini Singh Sonwani as its chairman.

“As it is clearly stated in the CGPSC Rules of Procedure that a close relative/family member of the Chairman and a member of the CGPSC appearing for examination, if so, the Chairman and the said Members shall keep themselves away from the examination process conducted by the CGPSC. However, in this case Shri Taman Singh Sonwani by substituting the word Relative for the word Family and changing the definition of Family, stayed in the examination process and confirmed the selection of his nephew Shri Nitesh (A-5) as Dy Collector again. Shri Sahil (A-6) in place of Dy. SP,” read the CBI paper.

Faisal Rizvi, advocate representing Mr. Sonwani, said the allegations against his client are based on assumptions. “Earlier, during the imprisonment, they said [prosecuting agency] they said that 18 students took the exam elsewhere and wanted a sample of the manuscript, now they say the paper has been leaked,” said Mr. Rizvi.