Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Odisha Vigilance sleuths on Monday arrested IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a local businessman.
The arrest was made after the businessman reported the matter to the Vigilance authorities.
According to a release issued by the Vigilance Directorate, during a search of Chakma’s official residence, the Vigilance team recovered an additional Rs 47 lakh in cash, which the officer failed to explain satisfactorily. The cash was seized, and Chakma was arrested and forwarded to the Vigilance Court in Kalahandi.
A case has been registered against Chakma under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018, and an investigation is underway.
This is not the first time Chakma has held a prominent position, having previously served as an Indian Forest Service officer before being appointed as an IAS officer.
“Earlier, Chakma had joined Odisha cadre as an Indian Forest Service officer (2019 Batch). After undergoing training, he worked as ACF, Baripada, Mayurbhanj from June,2021. In 2021, after clearing the civil services exam, he was appointed as IAS officer and assigned Odisha cadre. After training, he joined as Sub-Collector, Dharmagarh, Kalahandi in January, 2024 and was continuing as such till date”, the release stated.
