Ex-PSC chief of Chhattisgarh arrested in Rs 45 lakh bribe case

NEW DELHI: CBI on Monday arrested Taman Singh Sonwani , former chairman of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission , for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 45 lakh from the director of a Raipur-based steel company for ensuring selection of latter's son and daughter-in-law as deputy collectors.

CBI also arrested Shravan Kumar Goyal, director of Bajrang Power & Ispat Ltd, who allegedly paid the bribe through the Gramin Vikas Samiti, where Sonwani's relatives were members, in two installments of Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. The case pertains to complaints of irregularities in the selection of candidates for deputy collectors, DSPs, and other senior posts. CBI had registered an FIR against Sonwani and others in July this year on a reference from Chhattisgarh govt dated February 16.

The complaint, which is part of the CBI FIR, alleged, "The candidates who scored well in the examination are relatives of Public Service Commission officials, govt officials and politicians. It shows that the candidates were provided the examination paper in advance, enabling them to score well and get good ranks."