Chhattisgarh: Court extends CBI remand of former CGPSC chairman Sonwani, businessman Goyal by two weeks

RAIPUR: A special court of Raipur on Monday, November 25 extended the custody of former chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) Taman Sonwani and Sharavan Goyal by two weeks.

Both Sonwani and Goyal were produced before a special court on Monday following completion of their earlier remand of one week. The court after the hearing remanded them in custody for 14 days. They will be next produce before the court on December 8.

Earlier the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended both Sonwani and Goyal, a Raipur based businessmen in connection with a case linked to alleged irregularities in selection of candidates in State’s Public Service Commission Examination 2021.

Sonwani was arrested for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs45 lakh from the head of a Raipur based steel company for ensuring selections of two of the candidates in the prestigious examination.

According to the reports, Shravan Goyal allegedly paid a hefty sum of Rs 45 lakh in two instalments to ensure selections of his son Shashank Goyal and daughter-in-law Bhumika Kataria on the post of deputy collectors in the 2021 State’s PSC examination. The amount was allegedly paid through Gramin Vikas Samiti, a committee which had Sonwani’s relatives as its members.

Read the full report here:- CGPSC Alleged Irregularities Case: CBI arrests Ex-PSC Chairman Taman Sonwani, one other; All you need to know

It is pertinent to mention here that a major row erupted in the state of Chhattisgarh after the State’s PSC released the final list of successful candidates for State’s PSC 2021 Examination in April last year.

The list includes relatives of a few Congress leaders, senior bureaucrats, and seasoned businessmen, sparking a row about the alleged irregularities in the selection process of candidates. It is being alleged that a number of candidates who eventually made it to the final merit list were provide with examination papers in advance, enabling them to score well in the examination.

CBI registered a FIR into the matter in July this year. The agency launched a crackdown on multiple locations in connection with the case in August this year before arresting Sonwani and Goyal on November 18.