Dharamgarh, June 09, 2025: The Vigilance Department on Sunday arrested Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer serving as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, Kalahandi district, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a local businessman. The officer was caught red-handed at his official residence while receiving the cash.

According to vigilance sources, Chakma had allegedly demanded a total of ₹20 lakh to avoid taking punitive action against the businessman’s enterprise. The complainant, disturbed by the demand, approached the authorities, triggering a sting operation.

Officials reported that Chakma received the first instalment—26 bundles of ₹100 notes—at his residence. A chemical test later confirmed the presence of the bribe money on his hands and in the drawer where the cash was kept.

A subsequent search of Chakma’s official quarters revealed an additional ₹47 lakh in unaccounted cash, intensifying the charges of corruption. Authorities have registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, amended in 2018, under Vigilance Cell PS Case No. 6/2025.

A senior Vigilance official stated, “This operation is part of our ongoing drive to weed out corruption from the system. No one is above the law, and strict action will be taken against those violating public trust.”

Dhiman Chakma, a native of Agartala, had reportedly been under unofficial watch due to complaints about his conduct since his posting. The incident has sparked outrage in administrative circles and heightened calls for transparency and accountability among public officials.

Investigations are underway, and the Vigilance Department has assured that the matter will be pursued rigorously to its legal conclusion.