Raipur (thestates.news) | In a major development in the ongoing probe into the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) recruitment scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested five accused, including senior officials of the Commission and their close relatives, in connection with irregularities in the recruitment process for the 2020 and 2021 examinations.
Those arrested include Jeevan Kishore Dhruv, the then Secretary of CGPSC; Arti Wasnik, the then Controller of Examinations; Sumit Dhruv, a Deputy Collector and son of the then Secretary; Misha Kosle, a Deputy Collector and daughter-in-law of the then Chairman’s brother; and Deepa Adil, a District Excise Officer and also related to the then Chairman’s family.
According to officials, the arrests are part of efforts to unravel a wider conspiracy involving manipulation of results and favoritism in the selection of candidates for key administrative posts.
The CBI registered the case (RC1242024A0004) on July 9, 2024, following notifications issued by the Chhattisgarh government on February 16 and April 10, 2024. The FIR alleged that the then Chairman, Secretary, and other CGPSC officials, while overseeing the recruitment processes between 2020 and 2022, facilitated the selection of their own children and relatives by influencing examinations and interviews.
In the 2021 recruitment cycle alone, 1,29,206 candidates appeared in the preliminary exam, of whom 2,548 cleared for the mains. Out of these, 509 advanced to interviews, and 170 were finally appointed to various posts. Investigators allege that several of those ultimately selected were linked to serving officials of the Commission.Earlier in the case, the CBI had arrested the then Chairman of CGPSC, the then Deputy Controller of Examinations, along with four selected candidates and one private individual. All of them are currently in judicial custody.
The five newly arrested accused will be produced before court for police remand. Sources indicated that the investigation will now focus on other candidates suspected of having benefitted from the alleged rigging of results. A CBI spokesperson said further investigation is underway to identify the full extent of the conspiracy and the involvement of additional officials and candidates.(S-PIB)
