Chhattisgarh High Court Denies Bail in CGPSC Exam Scandal Case
Court Ruling on IAS Officer's Bail Application
Raipur/Bilaspur, August 6: The Chhattisgarh High Court has rejected the bail plea of a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer arrested by the CBI in connection with the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) exam scandal. The court stated that leaking question papers for competitive exams is 'more heinous than murder' as it ruins the careers of countless candidates and negatively impacts society.
The accused, Jivan Kishore Dhruv (62), was apprehended by the CBI in September 2025 while serving as the secretary of CGPSC during the alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams held from 2020 to 2022. His son, Sumit Dhruv, is also implicated in the case, having been selected as a Deputy Collector in the recruitment exam.
Judge Bibhu Dutta Guru reserved the order on Jivan Kishore Dhruv's bail application on July 31, which was announced on Wednesday. In dismissing the plea, the court reiterated its previous statements made while deciding on the bail applications of other accused individuals. The High Court remarked, 'Those who assist in leaking question papers for competitive exams jeopardize the careers and futures of millions of young candidates.'
The court emphasized that candidates dedicate extensive time and effort to prepare for these exams. Such actions are more atrocious than murder, as the death of one individual affects only a family, whereas the ruin of many candidates' careers has a widespread detrimental effect on society.
The court further noted, 'Considering the overall circumstances of the case, particularly the applicant's role in misusing his official position as the secretary of CGPSC, he retained confidential question papers from the main exam of 2021 and provided them to his son, who was a candidate in that exam. Subsequently, he secured a position as Deputy Collector.'
The order indicated that evidence collected from the applicant's residence, witness statements, and other documentary evidence suggest his involvement in the alleged conspiracy. During the hearing, Dhruv's lawyer, Devarshi Thakur, argued that the applicant was wrongfully implicated due to his position as secretary of CGPSC. He claimed that the original FIR did not mention his name and that he was later framed during the investigation.
The lawyer added that aside from a seized mobile phone, no incriminating items, documents, electronic devices, or other materials were recovered from the applicant. There is no evidence indicating that the applicant leaked any confidential question papers or provided any secret information to his children.
Opposing the bail application, CBI lawyer Vaibhav Govardhan stated that given the nature and severity of the crime, the evidence gathered during the investigation, and the applicant's significant role in the criminal conspiracy, he is not entitled to bail.
He highlighted that this case is linked to widespread irregularities in the organization of the CGPSC State Civil Service Examination 2021, which undermines the integrity and fairness of the public recruitment process and affects the trust of thousands of candidates. Two cases were registered regarding alleged irregularities in the CGPSC recruitment exams of 2020-2022, and the CBI took over the investigation of the CGPSC recruitment scam in July 2024.
Among those arrested in this case are former CGPSC chairman Taman Singh Sonwani, his nephew Nitesh Sonwani, and Sahil Sonwani, former Deputy Controller of Examinations Lalit Ganveer, businessman Shravan Kumar Goyal, his son Shashank Goyal, and daughter-in-law Bhoomika Katiyar.