Chhattisgarh HC denies bail to ex-PSC chief in recruitment exam paper leak case

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh high court has rejected the bail application of Taman Singh Sonwani, former Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (PSC), in connection with alleged irregularities in the State Service Examination.
The court observed: “A person who indulges in facilitating the leakage of question papers relating to competitive examinations plays with the career and future of lakhs of young aspirants, who are ‘burning the midnight oil’ to prepare for such exams. Such an act is more heinous than an offence of murder, because by killing a person, only one family is affected, but by ruining the career of lakhs of aspirants, the whole society suffers. Therefore, the alleged charges levelled against the accused persons, including the present applicant, cannot be termed as ordinary offences. The accused’s actions are a clear example of ‘fence eating the crop’.”
Justice Bibhu Datta Guru delivered the order, which was reserved on 17 April 2025.
Sonwani is accused of offences under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 120B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, along with sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The case, registered in 2024 at the CBI Anti-Corruption Branch in Raipur, involves allegations of illegalities in the PSC recruitment process. The investigation began after two FIRs were filed by the EOW/ACB Chhattisgarh and Arjunda Police, Balod district. Both were later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the prosecution, Sonwani and other PSC officials allegedly gave undue advantage to family members during the 2020–2022 State Service Examination. It is alleged that Shravan Kumar Goyal, Director of Bajrang Power and Ispat Ltd., donated Rs 45 lakh under Corporate Social Responsibility to Gramin Vikas Samiti (GVS), an NGO headed by Sonwani’s wife. Leaked question papers were allegedly shared with Goyal’s son and daughter-in-law, who were later selected as Deputy Collectors. Sonwani’s nephews also allegedly received the papers and were selected as Deputy Collector and Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Senior counsel for Sonwani argued that he was falsely implicated and had no role in setting question papers or managing the exam process. The counsel also pointed out that the printer of the papers was not named as an accused, and GVS was established in 2002—long before the alleged scam.
However, the CBI’s counsel claimed that Sonwani was the “kingpin” and even manipulated definitions to favour his nephews. The CBI also presented testimony from Sonwani’s brother, Anil Kumar Sonwani, Secretary of GVS, who admitted that question papers were leaked.
Citing the seriousness of the offence and the ongoing investigation, the court ruled there was no ground to grant bail. The bail applications of Shravan Goyal, Shashank Goyal, and Bhumika Katiyar were previously rejected.