Bhubaneswar, June 9: In a major crackdown on corruption, Odisha Vigilance officials on Monday arrested IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, the Sub-Collector of Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local businessman. The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the businessman, prompting the Vigilance department to act swiftly.

According to a press release from the Vigilance Directorate, during a raid at Chakma’s official residence, officials recovered an additional ₹47 lakh in unaccounted cash. When questioned, Chakma failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of the money. The entire amount was seized, and Chakma was formally arrested and produced before the Vigilance Court in Kalahandi.

A case has been registered against Chakma under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Further investigation is ongoing to trace the full extent of his alleged corrupt activities.

Chakma, a 2019-batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, joined the Odisha cadre and later cleared the civil services examination in 2021. He was posted as the Sub-Collector of Dharmagarh in January 2024 and had been serving in the position until his arrest.

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