Back in Bureaucracy, But Not Cleared: Dhiman Chakma Returns Amid Ongoing Corruption Trial

Nearly a year after being arrested in a corruption case and suspended from service, IAS officer Dhiman Chakma has been reinstated by the Odisha government. The 2021-batch officer has now been posted as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. However, officials have clarified that his reinstatement does not amount to a clean chit, as both the departmental inquiry and criminal proceedings are still underway.Dhiman Chakma was serving as the Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district when Odisha Vigilance arrested him on June 8, 2025.The arrest followed a complaint by a local stone crusher unit owner, who alleged that the IAS officer demanded Rs 20 lakh and threatened official action if the money was not paid.According

to Vigilance officials, the complainant recorded the conversation and approached the anti-corruption agency. Based on the complaint, Vigilance laid a trap and allegedly caught Chakma red-handed while accepting Rs 10 lakh, the first installment of the demanded amount.A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was subsequently registered against him.Following the arrest, Vigilance officials conducted searches at Chakma's official residence and reportedly recovered cash worth Rs 47 lakh. The recovery triggered a wider probe into his finances, assets, and official dealings.On June 10, 2025, just two days after his arrest, the Odisha government placed him under suspension and initiated departmental proceedings. Later, on July 24, 2025, the Orissa High Court granted him bail.Now, nearly a year later, the state government has revoked his suspension and assigned him a new posting as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.Government sources say the move is in accordance with service rules governing prolonged suspension periods.Officials have stressed that the reinstatement should not be viewed as exoneration. The departmental inquiry and the criminal trial before the Vigilance Court will continue independently.The final outcome of these proceedings will determine Chakma's future in government service.While Dhiman Chakma has returned to active service, the corruption case against him remains far from over. The legal battle and departmental probe will now decide whether the young IAS officer can fully clear his name or face further action.