Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken swift action, ordering the immediate suspension of Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer serving as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district.
The order, issued by the General Administration Department on June 10, 2025, comes in response to a vigilance case (P.S. Case No. 06 of 2025) currently under investigation.
The suspension, authorised under sub-rule 3 of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, follows Chakma’s alleged involvement in corrupt practices. During the suspension period, his headquarters are fixed at the GA&PG Department in Bhubaneswar, and he is prohibited from leaving without prior permission. Chakma is entitled to a subsistence allowance as per Rule 4(1)(a) of the same rules, provided he furnishes a certificate confirming no engagement in other employment or business.
The decision follows Chakma’s arrest by the Odisha Vigilance Department on June 8, 2025, for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from a local businessman.
The incident unfolded when vigilance officials caught Chakma red-handed while he was accepting the bribe, which was reportedly part of a larger Rs 20 lakh demand. The bribe was allegedly sought to shield the businessman’s stone crusher unit from regulatory action. Further investigation led to the recovery of an additional Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash from Chakma’s official residence in Dharamgarh. A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.
Following his arrest, Chakma was produced before the Special Vigilance Court in Bhawanipatna, which denied his bail plea and remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
The case has sent shockwaves through the state’s administrative circles, raising questions about the integrity of public officials. The Vigilance Department is continuing its investigation to uncover any further irregularities or involvement of other parties.
