Days after the arrest of IAS officer Dhiman Chakma on bribery charges, the Odisha Vigilance Directorate has widened its probe by conducting coordinated searches at properties linked to his family and relatives in Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
Three separate teams were dispatched to examine Chakma’s home in Kanchanpur, North Tripura and the residences of his in-laws in Saminala (Kullu district) and Rangbey (Lahaul and Spiti district) in Himachal Pradesh. During the raids, investigators collected documents related to bank deposits, investments, and other financial assets. Officials stated that further analysis is underway to determine if there are assets disproportionate to his known income.
Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer, was arrested on June 8 from his government quarters in Kalahandi district while allegedly accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe. The amount was said to be the first half of a Rs 20 lakh demand made to Harsha Bardhan Behera, a stone crusher unit owner, to shield his mining operations from penalties. A prior investigation by the mines department had imposed a fine of Rs 1.6 crore on Behera for over-extraction in August 2024.
Following Chakma’s arrest, a search of his residence revealed Rs 47 lakh in cash. Officials are now trying to trace the origins of the money and are appealing to anyone who may have previously paid bribes to come forward and assist in building the case.
Chakma, who was serving as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in his first posting, was suspended on June 10 and remains in judicial custody. His earlier administrative decisions are also being reviewed for possible misconduct. The ongoing inter-state probe was launched after his bail plea was denied by the vigilance court in Bhawanipatna.
