Bhubaneswar: IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, who was arrested by the state vigilance on June 9 for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh, has been released from Bhawanipatna jail after being granted conditional bail by the Orissa High Court.
Chakma, who was posted as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, was released on bail five days after the High Court’s order.
Chakma’s arrest followed a complaint alleging that he had demanded and accepted a bribe from a businessman in Kalahandi district. During a search of his official residence, authorities recovered Rs 47 lakh in cash. A case was registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
The Orissa High Court granted bail to Chakma on the condition that he furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and one solvent surety of the same amount. The court also imposed conditions that Chakma surrender his passport and not leave the country without the trial court’s permission.
Justice Gourishankar Satapathy observed that Chakma had roots in society and posed no flight risk. The court noted that the investigation had substantially progressed, with the complainant and witnesses’ statements recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, and Chakma’s voice sample sent for forensic examination. The court concluded that there was no justification for further detention and that the submission of the charge sheet was a mere formality.
The state government had suspended Chakma on June 10, following his arrest. Chakma’s bail plea had been earlier rejected by the special vigilance court in Bhawanipatna. Advocate Devashis Panda represented Chakma in the High Court.
