IAS officer Dhiman Chakma caught taking ₹10 lakh bribe in Odisha
Odisha IAS officer Dhiman Chakma caught accepting ₹10 lakh bribe
A serious corruption case has surfaced in Odisha involving a young IAS officer. Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer and the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, has been caught red-handed by the Odisha Vigilance Department. He was arrested on Monday, June 10, 2025, while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local businessman.
According to officials, Chakma had demanded ₹20 lakh in total, threatening the businessman with government action against his enterprise if he did not pay. The businessman reported the demand to the Vigilance Department, who then set a trap.
On the night of June 8, officers laid this trap at Chakma’s official residence in Dharamgarh. When the businessman handed over ₹10 lakh in cash — the first instalment of the bribe — the Vigilance team caught Chakma red-handed in the act.
Search at residence uncovers ₹47 Lakh
Following his arrest, a search operation was carried out at Chakma’s government residence. To everyone’s surprise, ₹47 lakh in cash was recovered from the quarters. Since Chakma could not provide a valid explanation for the source of such a large amount of money, officials seized the cash.
According to M Radhakrishna, the SP (Vigilance), all notes were laid out on a bed and shown in a video that has now gone viral. Both the hand wash and table drawer wash, where the money was kept, tested positive for chemical exposure, confirming the physical exchange of money.
Chakma had allegedly counted and verified 26 bundles of ₹100 notes using both hands before putting them in the drawer of his office table at his government home.
Chakma was produced before the special vigilance court in Bhawanipatna, which rejected his bail request and sent him to 14 days of judicial custody. The Odisha Vigilance has registered a formal case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, amended in 2018. The case is numbered Vigilance Cell PS Case No. 6/2025.
The Vigilance Department said that investigations are still ongoing, and further evidence is being collected. They are trying to find out if this was an isolated case or part of a larger pattern of corruption.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the department wrote:
“Today, Sri Dhiman Chakma, IAS (2021 batch), Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh, #Kalahandi, has been nabbed while taking a bribe of Rs. 10 Lakh from a businessman, threatening to act against his business otherwise.”
They further noted that this was the first instalment of the ₹20 lakh bribe demanded.
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Rising concern over young bureaucrats
The arrest has sparked concern among citizens, as Chakma is from the 2021 IAS batch — considered a young and rising officer. Such a case raises questions about ethics and accountability among young bureaucrats in public service.
Similar corruption cases have been reported recently, including one in Sangli, Maharashtra, where a deputy commissioner was booked for demanding ₹7 lakh. These repeated incidents highlight the need for stronger internal checks and vigilance.
The news has drawn wide media attention. Several videos and photos showing the currency notes laid out at the officer’s home have been circulating on the internet. The public has responded with anger and disappointment, especially given the trusted role IAS officers play in governance.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether more people are involved or whether this is part of a wider network. Investigators may now track bank records, property documents, and connections to see if Chakma had engaged in similar behavior earlier.
IAS officer Dhiman Chakma’s arrest in Odisha for accepting a ₹10 lakh bribe has brought shame to the civil service. With ₹47 lakh also found in his house and a threat made to a businessman, the case reveals serious misuse of power. Legal action has been taken, and further investigations are underway to determine the full scope of the misconduct. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service.
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