In a significant move against corruption, Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer serving as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Odisha's Kalahandi district, was apprehended by the Vigilance Department on Sunday, June 8, 2025, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh.

According to reports, Chakma had demanded a total of Rs 20 lakh from a local businessman, threatening to disrupt his business operations if the amount was not paid. The Rs 10 lakh seized was an initial installment of the demanded bribe. The incident took place at Chakma's official government residence in Dharamgarh, where Vigilance officials caught him red-handed.

The Vigilance officials stated that Chakma was caught while verifying 26 bundles of 100 notes of various denominations, which he then placed in his office table drawer. Chemical tests conducted on his hands and the drawer confirmed the presence of the marked currency, strengthening the evidence against him.

Following the arrest, authorities conducted searches at Chakma's residence, leading to the recovery of an additional Rs 47 lakh in cash. Investigations are currently underway to uncover more assets and details related to the case. A case has been registered against Chakma under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, at the Vigilance Cell PS (Case No. 6/2025). The Odisha Vigilance department has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

Dhiman Chakma, originally from Kanchanpur in Tripura, had achieved a rank of 482 in the Civil Services Examinations-2020, conducted by the UPSC. Prior to his role as Sub-Collector, he had cleared the IFS exams and worked as a Forest Department officer in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

This incident follows another case from December 2024, where the CBI summoned senior Odisha cadre IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi concerning a bribery case of Rs 10 lakh. In that case, Chanchal Mukherjee, the group general manager of Bridge and Roof Co. (India) Limited, was arrested for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. The CBI had alleged the money was delivered by the director of a private company based in Bhubaneswar.

These events underscore the continued efforts by the Odisha government and anti-corruption agencies to tackle corruption within the state's administrative framework. The apprehension of Dhiman Chakma serves as a stark reminder of the commitment to upholding integrity and accountability in public service.