Patwari promotion scam: Two officers arrested, ACB-EOW takes major action…
Raipur. The ACB-EOW team has taken major action in the Patwari to Revenue Inspector promotion scam in Chhattisgarh. The Bureau team has arrested Virendra Jatav and Hemant Kaushik.
In the State Economic Offences Investigation/Anti Corruption Bureau, in connection with the Patwari to Revenue Inspector promotion recruitment scam, crime number-64/2025 registered under section 7 (C) of the Corruption Act 1988 as amended in 2018 and sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B of the Indian Penal Code, officers, employees and other people are being continuously interrogated.
In this case, accused Virendra Jatav, Assistant Statistical Officer, Office of Commissioner Land Records Raipur and Hemant Kaushik, Assistant Statistical Officer, Office of Regional Deputy Commissioner Land Records Raipur have been arrested today on the basis of sufficient evidence against them for taking huge amount of money from the candidates, locking the question paper and getting the questions prepared before the examination, with the intention of providing undue benefits to themselves and the senior officers. They are produced before the Honorable Court of the Criminal Procedure Code and further legal action is being taken.
EOW conducted raids at 19 locations.
In fact, the RI promotion scam case was registered as Bureau Crime No. 64/2025, Section 7C of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as amended in 2018 and sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B of the Indian Penal Code on 18.11.2025.
Under this, on November 19, raids were conducted at the residences of officers/employees engaged in printing and distribution of question papers under the Examination Conducting Committee and at the residences of revenue officers engaged in liaisoning work for getting promotions.
Raids in these locations
Raids were conducted and searches were conducted at 10 places in Raipur, 1 in Gariaband, 1 in Bemetara, 1 in Bilaspur, 1 in Kanker, 1 in Bastar, 4 in Surguja, thus a total of 19 places were raided and searched.
During the search, digital evidence, transaction agreements, and other important documents were recovered. Following the analysis of the documents, two officials were arrested today.
Following this, the state government has ordered an investigation by the ACB. Following raids into the promotion scam, the ACB has arrested two officers. Read the investigation report to learn how revenue officials orchestrated the irregularities in the promotions from Patwari to RI.
The Revenue Department made the Patwaris sit together before the exam and solve the question paper. It is alleged that the Revenue Department officials, in exchange for 10 lakh rupees each, promoted the Patwaris to Revenue Inspectors. The most serious allegation is that the paper was leaked before the exam and those who were charged were made to sit together and solve the paper.
Second, the question paper was deliberately out of syllabus so that other Patwaris could not solve it. Furthermore, the same roll number was assigned to two and three Patwaris.
The Commissioner Land Records Office organized this exam. The officers made the candidates write their mobile numbers on the answer sheets. The purpose of this was to contact the Patwaris after the exam and strike a deal to pass them. There is no other exam in the country where mobile numbers are written on the answer sheets. If the identity of the candidate is revealed, then what is the meaning of the confidentiality of the exam?
order of investigation
Complaints reached high levels that Patwaris were paid to pass the RI selection exam and were made Revenue Inspectors. The Vishnudev government ordered an investigation into the scam. The government formed an inquiry committee headed by secretary-level IAS officer KD Kunjam.
Recommendation to conduct the examination again
The inquiry committee pointed out numerous flaws in the RI selection exam and recommended a re-examination. The committee considered the allegation that all successful Patwaris were gathered together before the exam to solve the paper to be serious and recommended a cyber cell investigation.
Revenue Department's lies exposed
The Revenue Department's lies have been exposed. The Revenue Department's Public Information Officer stated on January 29, 2025, that an investigation was underway, and the investigation report received by the NPG was submitted to the government on November 29, 2024. The investigation found the complaint to be true, stating that 22 family members, including husbands and wives, sisters-in-law, and brothers, were seated together. The nephew of an IAS officer rose from a Patwari to an RI without five years of service.
All this in the 9 page investigation report
Bhagwat Kashyap, State President, Revenue Patwari Sangh Chhattisgarh, Raipur, in a letter addressed to K. D. Kunjam, Special Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Ministry, Nava Raipur, has mentioned 1. Order of Chhattisgarh Government Revenue Disaster and Management Department No. F 3-01/2024/Saat-3, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, August 23, 2024, 2. Oral instructions of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Ministry, Nava Raipur, Letter No. 03/VS Food / 2024, Nava Raipur, dated 17/09/2024 and September 20, 2024 and 3. Letter No. 5354/A.Bhu of Office of Commissioner Land Records, Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Indravati Bhawan, First Floor, Block-2. A./Training/2023 Atal Nagar, 25th September 2023 has been cited, requesting a high level inquiry into the Revenue Inspector Departmental Examination 2024.
Referring to the referenced letters, it has been written that in the letter number 5354/A.N.A./Training/2023 Atal Nagar of the Office of the Commissioner of Land Records, Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar Indravati Bhawan, 1st Floor Block-2, dated 25th September 2023, regarding the conduct of the Revenue Inspector Preliminary Examination, a memorandum was issued including rules and recruitment as per the provision contained in Chhattisgarh Land Records Part 1 Chapter 1, in relation to which point-wise information has been presented regarding irregularities in the departmental examination.
1. According to reference number 3, a memorandum was issued regarding the conduct of the examination after the submission of the application form, in accordance with the recruitment rules and instructions detailed in paragraphs 1 through 4. The memorandum did not specify the total number of vacant posts and the nature of reservations. It should be noted that since this examination was conducted for the recruitment of revenue inspectors from patwaris through a departmental examination, rather than a promotion, it was necessary to specify the total number of vacant posts and the nature of reservations.
2. The syllabus for the Revenue Inspector Preliminary Examination was released twice in which Bhuiyan software was not mentioned, despite that 7 questions related to Bhuiyan software were asked in the question paper.
3. Admit cards were issued for the Revenue Inspector preliminary examination, which contained specific instructions that were not followed. It should be noted that, as per the specific instructions, no symbol, name, or roll number should be written anywhere on the OMR sheet except in the designated area. Despite this, a column was created on the OMR sheet for the candidate's mobile number. Despite the fact that mobile numbers are private, asking for them violates the confidentiality of the examination.
4. Candidates must fill in the required information on the OMR sheet, which is verified by the invigilator at the center, who then signs the sheet. Roll number 240921 was issued to Harshvardhan Motghare, who was selected after the exam. However, his name was later removed from the list and the name of Pawan Kumar Netam, roll number 241921, was added to the manual selection list in his place, which is the subject of investigation. If any of these individuals made any errors in filling out the OMR sheet, they are responsible for it, as are the officers and employees working in the examination hall whose signatures are on the candidate's OMR sheet. This investigation is absolutely necessary. It should be noted that by order number 561/A.Bhoo.A./Exam/2024, Atal Nagar, September 5, 2024, the Office of the Commissioner of Land Records, Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, Pawan Netam, Patwari, District Kondagaon, roll number 241921, was prohibited from filling in his OMR sheet. The selection was made on the basis that the number "1" in the middle of roll number 241921 was mistakenly circled, which is against the law. Other candidates also claim that they circled the correct answer to all questions, but in some cases, they mistakenly circled "A" instead of "B" or "B" instead of "A," "C," or "D." Therefore, it seems appropriate to provide such candidates with an opportunity.
5. The roll numbers allotted for the examination have been assigned with the intention of seating relatives nearby. For example, roll numbers 241797 and 241798 were allotted to Kamal Kishore Tiwari, son of Ujjain Tiwari, and Nirmal Kumar Tiwari, son of Ujjain Tiwari, both from Surguja district, who are brothers. Similarly, roll numbers 241975 and 241976 were allotted to Tuleshwar Kashyap, son of Fagu Ram Kashyap, and Meena Ram Kashyap, son of Fagu Ram Kashyap, from Bastar district. Roll numbers 241770 and 241771 were allotted to Jitendra Kumar Dhruv, son of Umeram Dhruv, from Bilaspur district, and Nimesh Kumar Dhruv, son of Umeram Dhruv, from Bemetara district, who belong to different districts but are brothers. Similarly, roll numbers 240779 and 240780 belong to Hemant Singh Dhruv, son of Dilip Singh Dhruv, District Bastar, and Harish Singh Dhruv, son of Dilip Singh Dhruv, District Dhamtari, respectively. It appears that these roll numbers were allotted to all of them with the intention of gaining unfair advantage.
6. Some discrepancies are also being observed in the selection list after the examination. The selection of mutual relatives also brings the departmental examination under suspicion. Roll numbers 241770 and 241771, Jitendra Kumar Dhruv, son of Umeram Dhruv, District Bilaspur, and Nimesh Kumar Dhruv, son of Umeram Dhruv, District Bemetara, are brothers. Roll numbers 241797 and 241798, Kamal Kishore Tiwari, son of Ujjain Tiwari, and Nirmal Kumar Tiwari, son of Ujjain Tiwari, are also brothers. Roll numbers 241377 and 241370, Jaiprakash Jain, son of Rameshwar Jain, and Tapesh Kumar Jain, son of Rameshwar Jain, respectively, are real brothers, who also scored 88. Roll number 240319, Dhananjay Prasad Sahu, son of Baldau Prasad Sahu, Roll number 240061, Rashmilata Sahu, wife of Dhananjay Prasad Sahu, and Roll number 241785, Meenakshi Sahu, daughter of T.R. Sahu, are husband/wife/sister-in-law. Dhananjay Singh, son of Amarjeet Singh, roll number 242265, and Riya Das, son of Govind Das, roll number 242446, are husband and wife. This observation suggests that the possibility of exam fraud cannot be ruled out.
7. On January 29, 2024, Ramesh Kumar Netam, Sunil Nag, Manjul Ghodeshwar, Devendra Kumar Markam, and Punamchand Dehari, all from Kondagaon district, submitted a request to the Chhattisgarh Revenue Patwari Association (Central Patwari Association) requesting cognizance and action regarding the leakage of the 2024 Departmental Selection Examination for Revenue Inspector Training. They expressed concerns that some candidates had been selected before the results were announced. These include Shiv Kumar Poyam (roll number 241912), Ravindra Kumar Netam (roll number 241883), and Harishchandra Rana (roll number 242262). The five points mentioned in the above request require careful scrutiny. It should be noted that the Revenue Inspector Preliminary Examination was held on January 7, 2024, and the results were released on February 29, 2024.
8. Roll No. 241439 Ankit Sharma, son of Rajkumar Sharma, has been made eligible for the examination despite not having 3 years of service and has also been selected after the result.
9. Roll No. 240658 has obtained 26 and 24 marks respectively in the declared examination result, which is doubtful because how can different marks be awarded to the same candidate.
10. According to sources, blatant rigging occurred in the Revenue Inspector departmental examination. In order to benefit the unqualified, most candidates were assigned question papers before the exam. Prior to the exam, the candidates were provided with question papers, made to solve them, and were given continuous practice. This can be confirmed by obtaining the relevant candidates' residences and their mobile phone locations at the time.
11. In the examination, in two questions numbered 8, 18 from set A, 33, 43 from set B, 3, 43 from set C and 43, 48 from set D, the answer has been considered as B/B whereas such answers cannot be assessed in the OMR sheet.
The role of these revenue officers is suspicious.
12. As per the information received, Satish Uike, Assistant Programmer, Commissioner, Land Records Branch, Indravati Bhawan, Raipur and Hemant Kaushik, Assistant Superintendent, Land Records, Land Records Branch, Indravati Bhawan, Raipur both have a major role in the leak of the question paper of RI promotion examination. The role of Ritesh Chandel, Bilaspur Division and Satish Uike, Hemant Kaushik, H Toppon, State Inspectors Naresh Maurya, Dharmendra Dubey, Dharamdev Lakda from Bastar and Surguja Division is suspicious, whose mobile location needs to be checked.
13. On September 5, 2024, the department sent a letter to the district collectors for document verification of all selected Patwaris. While the government had said that an inquiry would be conducted regarding exam rigging, even after that, the process being carried forward is suspicious. Both have a major role. The role of Ritesh Chandel from Bilaspur division and Satish Uike, Hemant Kaushik, H Toppon from Bastar and Surguja divisions, along with the state inspectors Naresh Maurya, Dharmendra Dubey, and Dharamdev Lakda, is suspicious. Their mobile locations need to be investigated.
13. On 05 September 2024, the department did not send the documents of all the selected Patwaris to the District Collectors for verification, whereas the government had said that an inquiry would be conducted regarding the examination rigging. Even after that, taking the process forward is suspicious. It would not be justified to proceed further without conducting an inquiry.
Investigating officer raises big questions
The investigating officer has written in his report that Sir, the state assembly elections were in full swing, the code of conduct had been imposed, all the Patwaris of the state were busy day and night in various preparations for the elections and all the procedures for this departmental examination were being followed, the present Revenue Minister became the Chief Minister on 29 December and keeping him in the dark, this examination was conducted within just 7 days, what was the need for such haste? This also gives rise to suspicion and this is also a matter of investigation.
0 Big focus on this in the investigation report
15. Sir, a look at the question paper of Revenue Inspector Training Examination 2024 reveals that in the name of 50 questions, 2 questions were included in each question, and the answer to the question of every page including the last page was to be selected by turning the first page. Thus, by allocating 90 minutes for 50 questions, suddenly giving 100 questions in the same time and forcing one to turn the first page every time for selecting the answer is not right for any examination system and this also gives rise to doubt.
16. Sir, reading 100 questions in 90 minutes, then turning the page and selecting one of the options, then circling it completely on the OMR sheet and scoring 90 out of 100 marks by a departmental candidate is an impossible task and is a very serious matter that raises doubts.
17. Sir, polygram test should be conducted on every officer and employee involved in the said examination so that the lies can be exposed.
18. After the formation of Chhattisgarh state, departmental examinations for Patwari to Revenue Inspector were conducted in the years 2016, 2017, and 2019, in which the maximum marks obtained by selected candidates were 80 and the minimum was 36. However, in the examination held in 2024, the maximum marks obtained by selected candidates were 90 and the minimum was 64. It should be noted that objections were raised against 18 of the 50 questions in that examination, of which 3 were deleted. Despite this, it is suspicious that a candidate obtained a maximum of 90 marks. Documents are attached.
This has never happened before in Chhattisgarh.
The investigation officer has written in his report that till date in the history of Chhattisgarh, no one has ever scored 90 marks in the departmental examination and the cutoff number has also never been 64. Earlier, in the Revenue Inspector departmental examination, the cutoff number was 36-38. This time, the departmental examination paper has been sold to the Patwaris by an officer or employee of the department for a huge amount of money, due to which the hard working Patwaris are feeling cheated. Therefore, you are requested to get the call details, call location, WhatsApp group and messages of all the selected candidates and the named people checked a day or two before the examination, the entire scam will be exposed and if found guilty, action should be taken against them as per the rules.
Revenue Department constitutes high level investigation team in connection with the complaint.
In this case, by order number F 03-01/2024/Saat-3 dated August 23, 2024 of the Ministry of Revenue and Disaster Management Department of Chhattisgarh Government, a 5-member investigation team has been constituted for a high-level investigation into the irregularities committed in the Revenue Inspector Departmental Examination-2024.
The said inquiry committee obtained the necessary information regarding the subject matter of the investigation by sending letters to the complainants Bhagwat Kashyap, Anand Kumar Kashyap and the officer mentioned in the complaint, Hemant Kaushik, Deputy Commissioner, and obtained the necessary information regarding the documents and facts of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the complainants mentioned in the complaints received. After examining and reviewing all the documents by the committee, the following points of investigation have been determined in relation to the said investigation.





