Dharamgarh Sub-Collector Dhiman Chakma Caught Accepting Bribe, Vigilance Uncovers ₹47 Lakh at Residence

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Vigilance Department on Sunday caught Dhiman Chakma, IAS (2021 batch) and Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local businessman at his official residence.

The bribe amount was reportedly part of a larger demand of ₹20 lakh, allegedly made by the Sub-Collector under threats of official action against the businessman’s enterprise. Acting on a complaint, vigilance officials laid a trap and apprehended Chakma moments after he received and verified the bribe money.

According to the Vigilance Directorate, the Sub-Collector called the complainant to his government residence in Dharamgarh, where he personally counted and verified 26 bundles of ₹100 notes of various denominations using both hands before placing the cash in the drawer of his office table. Chemical tests on both his hands and the drawer confirmed the presence of bribe money.

Following the arrest, a raid at Chakma’s official residence led to the recovery of an additional ₹47 lakh in cash. Vigilance teams have continued search operations to trace further evidence of disproportionate assets or additional illicit funds.

Hailing from the Kanchanpur area of Tripura, Chakma secured the 482nd rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2020.

Prior to this, he had cleared the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam and was serving as a Forest Department officer in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

A case has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The FIR has been filed at the Vigilance Cell Police Station (Case No. 6/2025). Officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow as more information comes to light.