ED Raids Five Locations in CGPSC Recruitment Scam; Utkarsh Chandrakar Arrested
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Raipur Zonal Office, conducted search operations at five locations across Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, Durg, Dhamtari and Jashpur districts on September 1, 2026. The searches were part of a money laundering investigation into alleged question paper leaks, corruption and irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC).
The ED launched its investigation based on two FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Raipur, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), ACB, Raipur. The cases name Taman Singh Sonwani, the then CGPSC chairman, and others in connection with alleged large-scale irregularities in the State Service Examinations held in 2020 and 2021.
According to the investigation, question papers were allegedly leaked to relatives of the accused and selected candidates through private intermediaries in exchange for illegal payments. The alleged malpractice reportedly helped certain candidates secure government positions, including Deputy Collector and Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The ED further alleged that Utkarsh Chandrakar and Dr. Vikash Chandrakar collected more than ₹3 crore in cash from job aspirants by promising to provide leaked question papers for the CGPSC 2021 examination. Of this amount, approximately ₹2.80 crore was allegedly handed over to Anil Chandrakar.
Investigators also alleged that Utkarsh Chandrakar used the name, position and influence of K.K. Chandravanshi, his maternal uncle and the then Personal Assistant to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, to influence job aspirants and collect money. Chandravanshi had also served as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s office, according to the ED statement.
The agency had previously conducted searches in the case on June 3, 2026. Based on the evidence collected, statements recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), digital data retrieved from Utkarsh Chandrakar’s mobile phone and an analysis of his bank statements, the ED said it had established his alleged involvement in activities connected with the proceeds of crime.
These activities allegedly included generating, acquiring, possessing, concealing, transferring and using the funds, as well as projecting them as legitimate money.
Utkarsh Chandrakar was arrested on September 1, 2026, under Section 19 of the PMLA, 2002.
During the latest searches, the ED seized documents, digital devices, financial records, property-related papers and other material considered relevant to the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing as the agency examines the alleged flow of money and the roles of individuals suspected of involvement in the recruitment scam.
News Source : Directorate of Enforcement (ED) – Official Press Release, Government of India
