Odisha IAS officer Dhiman Chakma caught with Rs 10 lakh bribe, Rs 47 lakh found at home

Odisha Vigilance on Sunday arrested IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, 36, after he was caught red-handed accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a local businessman in Kalahandi district. Chakma, a 2021 batch officer currently posted as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, is now at the centre of a growing investigation that has already unearthed Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash from his government residence, TOI reported.

According to Odisha Vigilance Director Yeshwant Jethwa, Chakma was apprehended inside his government quarters after a trap was laid following a formal complaint filed by the businessman on Saturday. The businessman, who runs stone crusher units in areas under Chakma’s jurisdiction, had approached the authorities alleging that the officer had demanded Rs 20 lakh to avoid adverse official action.

Chakma allegedly agreed to take the amount in instalments and the Rs 10 lakh caught on Sunday was reportedly the first tranche of the bribe. “The IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, currently serving as sub-collector, Dharamgarh in Kalahandi, was caught red handed while demanding and accepting ₹10 lakh bribe in his govt quarter at Dharamgarh. We laid a trap after receiving a complaint from the businessman,” Jethwa was quoted by TOI.

During subsequent searches at his official residence, vigilance officials found an additional Rs 47 lakh in cash, neatly stacked in various denominations and hidden in a drawer. “Our personnel are still conducting searches. Our investigation is in progress,” Jethwa added.