IAS officer who was 'caught for accepting bribe' in Odisha had big dreams; everything we know

Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer who once inspired many with his unlikely journey to the civil services, is now at the centre of a high-profile corruption scandal in Odisha.

On Sunday, Chakma was caught red-handed by Odisha Vigilance officials while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a local businessman at his official residence in Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district.

According to Vigilance sources, the bribe was reportedly the first instalment of an overall demand of Rs 20 lakh. The money was allegedly extorted under the threat of administrative action against the businessman, who owns a crusher unit in the Jayapatna area.

How the Trap Was Laid

The Vigilance team acted on a formal complaint and orchestrated a trap. Chakma allegedly summoned the businessman to his official government quarters and personally verified 26 bundles of notes, using both hands, before placing the cash inside his office table drawer. 

Chemical tests later confirmed the presence of bribe residue on his hands and the drawer surface.

A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Vigilance Cell PS Case No.-6/2025 has been opened, and further legal action is underway.

Also Read: IAS officer caught red-handed while accepting Rs 10 lakh bribe in Odisha

Raids Uncover Rs 47 Lakh in Unaccounted Cash

The operation didn’t end with the bribe recovery. Vigilance teams launched an extensive search of Chakma’s government residence, which led to the discovery of Rs 47 lakh in unexplained cash.

The amount was found stashed in various locations within the premises, and its source remains under investigation. Searches are ongoing to trace further assets that may have been acquired through illicit means.

Senior Vigilance officers are supervising the investigation, and the findings are expected to have serious administrative consequences for Chakma, whose career is now under a dark cloud of suspicion and public disgrace.

A Dream That Once Inspired Many

What makes this story particularly tragic is the dramatic fall from promise to infamy. Just three years ago, Dhiman Chakma was being celebrated as a trailblazer from one of India’s remotest corners.

A native of Kanchanpur in Tripura, Dhiman was the first from his family and hometown to clear the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2020. 

He secured an All India Rank of 482 on his final attempt while already serving as an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer. 

Before that, in 2019, he had cleared the UPSC with a rank of 722, according to The Times of India.

In an interview in 2021, Chakma had expressed a deep desire to work in the field of education. “There is almost negligible participation of students from Tripura when it comes to UPSC Civil Services,” he had told Education Times.

“Now, as an administrative officer, I would like to focus on issues concerning education in Tripura. Students need to be apprised through various talk sessions and discussions," he said.

A graduate in Computer Science from NIT Agartala, Dhiman often spoke about the challenges of balancing work with UPSC preparation.

Chakma’s arrest has now come as a shock to many who saw him as a role model for youth in India’s Northeast and underrepresented regions.

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For now, a journey that began with promise and purpose stands tarnished. From motivating UPSC aspirants to facing charges under the anti-corruption law, Dhiman Chakma’s story serves as both an inspiration and a warning.