Raipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chetan Borghariya, the additional collector of Balrampur-Ramanujganj district, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities at the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC), officials said.
Allegations relate to PSC examinations of 2020-21
The ED said the arrest relates to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption, question-paper leaks and manipulation of state service examinations conducted by the CGPSC in 2020 and 2021. Borghariya was taken into custody on Friday and will be produced before a special PMLA court, where the ED will seek his remand for custodial interrogation, the officials added.
Borghariya was earlier posted as officer-on-special-duty (OSD) in the office of then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel between 2019 and 2022, according to the ED report. The agency has so far arrested other functionaries in the case, including the CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani and Utkarsh Chandrakar, described as the nephew of Baghel's former personal assistant K K Chandravanshi.
Investigation status and legal process
The ED has invoked provisions of the PMLA, which allows custody and investigation when proceeds of crime are suspected to have been laundered through various channels. The agency will seek judicial remand to question Borghariya further about his alleged role and any financial transactions connected to the purported irregularities.
Officials said the matter remains under investigation and that the arrests to date reflect the ED’s focus on alleged money flows arising from the PSC probe. No charge-sheet has been reported yet in the case and all individuals arrested are treated as accused until proven guilty through due process.
Background: earlier arrests and the probe's scope
The money-laundering case was registered after initial allegations of corruption and malpractice surfaced around the conduct of CGPSC examinations in 2020-21. The ED's action has included multiple arrests and searches linked to alleged exam manipulation and related financial irregularities.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrested on | September 11 (ED custody) |
| Accused official | Chetan Borghariya, additional collector, Balrampur-Ramanujganj |
| Previous postings | OSD in office of then CM Bhupesh Baghel (2019–2022) |
| Related arrests | Taman Singh Sonwani (CGPSC chairman), Utkarsh Chandrakar |
Procedural safeguards and next steps
Under the PMLA, arrested persons are to be produced before a special court within the stipulated time, and the ED will seek remand for custody to further its probe. The court will decide on the remand application after hearing the agency and the accused's legal representatives. Any evidence collected will be subject to judicial scrutiny during the trial or as part of supplementary hearings.
Local administration and official response
The state administration has not issued a detailed public statement on Borghariya's arrest at the time of reporting. The ED's communications outlined the charge of money laundering connected to the PSC matter but have not published the full list of accused or a charge-sheet. The investigation is continuing and more developments are expected as the agency completes its custodial questioning and gathers documentary evidence.
Wider implications
The case has political and administrative ramifications given the involvement of officials who served during the previous state government. Arrests of serving or former officials in cases of alleged exam malpractice tend to provoke scrutiny of recruitment processes, oversight mechanisms and institutional responsibility in competitive public service examinations.
- What is known: ED arrested Chetan Borghariya under the PMLA in the CGPSC-linked probe; he served as OSD to the then CM from 2019–22.
- What remains to be established: Details of the alleged money trails, the content of any charge-sheet, and the findings of custodial interrogation and forensic examination of records.
The ED's probe is ongoing and subject to orders of the special PMLA court. The accused are entitled to legal representation and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in a court of law.
