Tripura origin IAS Officer Dhiman Chakma nabbed in bribery case

Odisha Vigilance on Sunday arrested Dhiman Chakma, a 2021 batch IAS officer of Tripura origin, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a businessman in Kalahandi district. Currently serving as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, Chakma was caught red-handed at his government quarter while accepting the bribe.

Following the trap, vigilance officials recovered an additional Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash from Chakma’s official residence. The cash was found in various denominations, hidden in a table drawer and other spots within the residence.

According to vigilance director Yeshwant Jethwa, the businessman, who runs stone crusher units in Chakma’s jurisdiction, had filed a complaint after the officer allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh. A trap was laid immediately, leading to the arrest.

Dhiman Chakma, 36, hails from Tripura and is a computer science graduate from NIT Agartala. He had left a well-paying job in the private sector after cracking the UPSC in 2021 to serve in the Indian Administrative Service.

Searches are still underway and further investigation is in progress, vigilance officials said.