Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday suspended Dharamgarh Sub-Collector Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer, following his arrest in a high-profile bribery case.
A notification from the General Administration and Public Grievance Department confirmed the suspension under sub-rule 3 of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. “Shri Dhiman Chakma, IAS (RR-2021), is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect,” the order stated.
As per the suspension terms, Chakma’s headquarters has been fixed at the GA&PG Department in Bhubaneswar. He has been restricted from leaving the headquarters without prior approval from the competent authority.
Chakma, 36, was arrested on Monday by Odisha Vigilance, a day after he was caught red-handed allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local businessman at his official residence in Dharamgarh, Kalahandi district. This payment was reportedly the first installment of a ₹20 lakh demand.
During subsequent raids at his residence, officials recovered an additional ₹47 lakh in cash, taking the total seized amount to ₹57 lakh.
He has been remanded to judicial custody till June 22 by the Special Vigilance Court in Bhawanipatna.
