Bhawanipatna: In a significant crackdown on corruption, Dhiman Chakma, an IAS officer of the 2021 batch and currently serving as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, was arrested today by the Odisha Vigilance for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh. The arrest followed a meticulously planned trap operation conducted on the night of June 8, 2025.
According to M Radhkrishnan, SP Vigilance, Shri Chakma had demanded a total bribe of ₹20 lakh from a local businessman, threatening adverse action against his business if the demand was not met. Left with no alternative, the businessman lodged a complaint with the Vigilance authorities.
Based on the complaint, a trap was laid, and Shri Chakma was apprehended by a team of Odisha Vigilance in his official residential government quarter at Dharamgarh while allegedly accepting an installment of ₹10 lakh. The entire bribe amount was recovered from his possession and seized in the presence of witnesses. Further corroborating the acceptance of the bribe, both hands of Sri Chakma reportedly gave a positive chemical reaction during a wash test.
Following the trap, simultaneous search operations were conducted at Shri Chakma’s residential government quarter in Dharamgarh and his office chamber. During the search at his residence, a substantial amount of unaccounted cash, totaling ₹47 lakh, was unearthed and seized. Officials stated that Chakma could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the possession of such a large sum of cash. In total, ₹57 lakh in cash has been seized in connection with the case.
A case has been registered against Sri Dhiman Chakma under Vigilance Cell PS Case No. 6 dated June 3, 2025, U/s 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Shri Chakma, who had earlier joined the Odisha cadre as an Indian Forest Service officer (2019 batch) and served as ACF, Baripada, Mayurbhanj from June 2021, cleared the civil services exam in 2021 to become an IAS officer.
After completing his training, he was posted as Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh, Kalahandi in January 2024, a position he held until his arrest today. He was subsequently forwarded to the Vigilance Court, Kalahandi.