The Odisha government has reinstated 2021-batch IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, posting him as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, even as his corruption case continues in court. The move, notified on May 21, 2026, has drawn criticism online.
Public Reaction
One user wrote, “Arrested, suspended, reinstated & now posted in revenue dept. Gets another opportunity to ‘earn revenue’.” Another comment read, “IAS jobs are for life, no matter how corrupt you are.” A third post said, “Considering he was accused of taking a 10 Lakh bribe and some 47 lakhs of unaccounted cash was found on him, this is the ideal posting for him as he definitely knows creative ways of increasing revenue.”
Background of the Case
Chakma was arrested in June 2025 by Odisha Vigilance for allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a stone crusher owner in Kalahandi district. Officials said he was caught red-handed inside his government quarters in Dharamgarh while taking the money. During subsequent searches, vigilance teams recovered Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash from his residence. After the arrest, he was suspended from service, sent to judicial custody, and later granted bail by the Orissa High Court.
The case began when a stone crusher businessman operating under Chakma’s jurisdiction complained that the officer had demanded Rs 20 lakh as bribe. Based on the complaint, vigilance officials laid a trap, leading to his arrest, according to investigators.
Who is Dhiman Chakma?
- Dhiman Chakma is a 2021-batch IAS officer from Tripura.
- He was posted as Sub-Collector in Dharamgarh, Kalahandi district, Odisha, at the time of his arrest.
- He came under vigilance investigation in June 2025 over bribery allegations linked to a stone crusher business.
- He was arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe, and Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash was recovered during searches at his residence.
- After the arrest, he was suspended from service and remained in judicial custody before being granted bail by the Orissa High Court.
- In May 2026, he was reinstated and posted as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
