On June 8, 2025, Dhiman Chakma, a 36-year-old IAS officer of the 2021 batch and subcollector of Dharamgarh in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, was arrested for accepting a ₹10 lakh bribe. Vigilance officials caught him red-handed at his home after a businessman, who runs a stone crusher company, reported that Chakma had demanded ₹20 lakh to avoid targeting his business.

Suspicious Transaction Leads to Vigilance Action
The businessman, suspicious of the demand, gave ₹10 lakh as a partial payment to authorities who had been alerted and set up a surveillance operation. Chakma was observed receiving the money in multiple bills, which he stored in a drawer. Chemical tests confirmed the presence of the bribe money on both the drawer and Chakma’s hands.

Unexplained ₹47 Lakh Found at Government Premises
Following the initial seizure, vigilance officials conducted further searches and recovered an additional ₹47 lakh in cash from Chakma’s government premises, raising suspicions of more extensive corruption. Investigations are ongoing to uncover further evidence.

Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Chakma has been charged under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, which prescribes imprisonment between three and seven years for such offences. The Vigilance Department in Bhubaneswar is actively probing all aspects of the case, including a thorough examination of Chakma’s assets.

Official Statement
Yeshwant Jethwa, Director of Vigilance, confirmed to Hindustan Times that the officer was caught accepting the bribe at his residence in Dharamgarh and emphasized that the search operations continue to uncover any additional wrongdoing.

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