IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, arrested for accepting a ₹10 lakh bribe, has been granted conditional bail by Orissa HC. Caught red-handed and suspended from service, Chakma’s case has sparked nationwide debate on bureaucratic corruption and Odisha’s intensified anti-graft drive. Investigation continues amid high public scrutiny.
In a major development in Odisha’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, who is currently lodged in jail over serious bribery charges. Chakma, a 2021 batch officer from Tripura, was arrested by the Vigilance Police after being caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local crusher unit owner. The bribe reportedly formed the first installment of an alleged ₹20 lakh demand.
The High Court approved Chakma’s bail on the strict condition that he furnish two sureties of ₹5 lakh each. The ruling comes after the Vigilance Court in Bhawanipatna had earlier rejected Chakma’s bail plea, prompting him to move the High Court for relief.
Chakma was serving as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Odisha’s Kalahandi district at the time of his arrest on June 8, 2025. According to Vigilance officials, he was caught in the act of accepting ₹10 lakh in cash as a bribe at his official premises. Following his arrest, a subsequent raid on his government residence led to the seizure of ₹47,47,600 in cash, spread across various denominations, further implicating him in a high-profile corruption case.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has launched a detailed investigation into the source of the seized cash and the full extent of Chakma’s alleged corrupt dealings. Officials believe the bribery case may be part of a broader network of corruption within administrative circles in the region.
The arrest of an IAS officer—a member of India’s elite civil services—has triggered a national conversation on bureaucratic accountability and the systemic corruption that continues to plague the Indian administrative system. Public outrage has grown, especially in Odisha, where the government has ramped up its anti-corruption operations over the past year. The case has reignited debate over the integrity of public servants and the effectiveness of anti-graft mechanisms.
In light of the allegations, the Odisha government swiftly suspended Dhiman Chakma from service. His responsibilities have been officially transferred to the General Administration (GA) Department in Bhubaneswar. The state’s administrative machinery has also initiated departmental proceedings, which may determine Chakma’s future in civil service.
Chakma’s arrest and subsequent suspension are being seen as part of Odisha’s larger effort to root out corruption from public offices. The state government has been under pressure to demonstrate zero tolerance toward corrupt practices, particularly in tribal and economically backward districts like Kalahandi, where developmental needs are acute and governance lapses can have a significant impact.
Dhiman Chakma, originally from the northeastern state of Tripura, had earned admiration early in his career for working in remote tribal regions. However, the serious nature of the charges against him has now cast a long shadow over his credibility and career. Legal experts suggest that the grant of conditional bail does not dilute the seriousness of the charges, and Chakma may still face criminal proceedings, depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
While Chakma has not yet made any public statement, his legal team maintains that he is being framed and that he will contest all charges in court. Meanwhile, the Vigilance Department has reiterated its commitment to a fair and impartial investigation.
The case has garnered national attention not only due to Chakma’s bureaucratic position but also due to the sheer scale of the bribe and cash recovery. Transparency advocates and civil society organizations have called for speedy prosecution and stronger institutional safeguards to deter such acts of corruption in the future.
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As the investigation progresses, all eyes remain on the Orissa High Court and Vigilance authorities to ensure that justice is served. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how India deals with high-level bureaucratic corruption moving forward.
