How could one amass so much in such short span of time? This was the response of a very senior IAS officer known for his integrity, to the young IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, getting caught receiving a Rs 10 lakh bribe in Odisha. Raids uncovered Rs 47 lakh in cash from his residence.
Chakma is a 2021-batch IAS officer serving as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh. After all, a Sub-Collector, equivalent of a Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), is in charge of a sub-division in a district, doesn’t have major responsibilities. He had completed his training as an IAS last year only and this was apparently his major field posting.
The incident has sent shockwaves among the bureaucracy across the country. Incidents like these typify the bureaucracy as the most corrupt institution. If one had to generalise the incident, it could be said that making money is probably the drive behind UPSC aspirants these days than bringing about a positive change in the society or serving the country, as they claim during the interview.
OTHER EXAMPLES
But it isn’t just a one-off incident. IAS officers are increasingly been caught indulging in corrupt practices – financial as well as moral. Sample these incidents that hit headlines during past two years – Amit Kumar Singhal (IRS, 2007 Batch) arrested in June 2025 in Mohali for taking a Rs 25 lakh bribe while serving as Additional DG at the Directorate of Taxpayer Services, Delhi. The CBI seized Rs 1 crore in cash and 3.5 kg of gold during the investigation.
Another IRS officer Chintan Raghuvanshi too was arrested in June 2025 for demanding a Rs 20 lakh bribe while working as Deputy Director at the Enforcement Directorate (ED). An IAS officer Abhishek Prakash was suspended in March 2025 after being caught demanding a 5% commission to approve a solar project in Uttar Pradesh. An STF inquiry revealed he had amassed 700 bighas of land and built multiple bungalows.
Vinay Kumar Choubey IAS, was arrested in 2023 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jharkhand for his role in a money laundering case linked to an excise scam. Jaibir Singh IAS, was arrested in 2023 by Haryana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau for demanding a bribe to sanction a transfer. Sanjay Popli IAS, was arrested in June 2023 for demanding a 1% commission on a tender for laying sewerage pipes in Nawanshahr, Punjab. The Vigilance Bureau recovered over 12 kg of gold and other valuables from his residence. Similarly, Meghraj Singh Ratnu IAS, was booked last year by the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accumulating disproportionate assets while serving as Registrar in the Cooperative Department.
THE NORM & THE EXCEPTION
Now people feel that corruption is the norm in bureaucracy and upright officers are exception or aberration. “Everybody, from top to bottom, sees us an impediment in the smooth flow of money down the chain. Thats why upright officers are given posts where they don’t have to do much and are reduced as some kind of showpiece”, says former IAS officer Vijay Shankar Pandey, who served as Additional Cabinet Secretary in U.P. and a Secretary at the Centre.
So, is there something seriously wrong in the system? In our education system? Or in their selection and training process? If corruption is the norm, what is the incentive to remain honest? Of course, we learn from our parents more than the teachers. If parents teach us lies and bribery, then we can’t blame teachers – whether in school, college or training institutions for the bureaucrats. But this notion doesn’t absolve the latter from abdicating their responsibility altogether.
STRONG DETERRENCE
Of course, the deterrence has to be stronger than mere inquiry or suspension of an officer. Take the example of Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal who was in jail for more than two years after ED officers recovered Rs 36 crore in cash from her. She got bail in December, and on January 21, state government revoked her suspension and reinstated her soon after.
It is because of examples like these; even young officers are getting emboldened enough to demand bribe from first day in office. They are the reason why a young IPS officer once had the temerity to ask the Union Home Secretary after a convocation lecture, “Sir, what is wrong in being corrupt?” And to his answer – “Because you may be caught” – the young man again had audacity to give a riposte – “Who is being caught these days”.
BUCK STOPS HERE
Officers like Mr Vijay Shankar Pandey feel the buck stops at politicians in power. “If they take most stringent actions against the corrupt, who will have courage in taking a bribe”, says Mr Pandey. Those in the government prefer corrupt officers because they can be manipulated easily whereas upright officers will do only by the rule book. This is why, people like Mr Akhand Pratap Singh, Ms Neera Yadav who were voted by their fellow IAS officers in U.P. as most corrupt, were one-by-one appointed as Chief Secretary of the state.
STICK TO RULE BOOK
Another IAS officer known for his righteousness, Mr Anil Swarup, feels the malaise lies within the bureaucracy and its wrong to blame the politicians only. “They need to make quick money because they have a limited stay in power and go to elections periodically. But, IAS officers have to stay in service at least till their retirement – a tenue of approximately 35 years”, says Mr Swarup. Officers need not to bend before politicians and stick only to the rule book. Constitution has given them enough protection, he adds.
So, can corruption be banished from bureaucracy forever? Mr Swarup is optimistic, He is even writing a book on corruption in which he would describe all kinds of corruption and how can it be plugged.
NO QUICK FIXES
The quick fix of course, has to be a strong deterrent, peer pressure and strengthened legal system that fast-track investigations of the guilty. But, in the long term we need to give greater autonomy, funding, and legal authority to investigative agencies to investigate and prosecute without political interference. Disclosure of assets is not enough; they also need to declare the source of income as well.
Under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), bribery is punishable by a fine and up to five years imprisonment. It is a sad that our police and judiciary were ranked as the second and third most corrupt institutions in India. After political parties, these two institutions, have thwarted convictions, and arguably increased incentives for bribery.
