The Odisha government has reinstated 2021 batch IAS officer, Dhiman Chakma, and appointed him as Deputy Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, though his corruption case is still ongoing in court.
The move, reported on May 21, 2026, is drawing criticism online.One user wrote: “He was arrested, suspended, reinstated and now posted to revenue department. Gets another chance to earn revenue.” “IAS jobs are for life, no matter how corrupt you are,” another comment read. A third post said: “Considering he was accused of taking a 10k bribe and was found with around 47k in unaccounted cash, this is the perfect post for him as he definitely knows creative ways to increase revenue.”
Chakma was arrested in June 2025 by Odisha Vigilance for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a stone crusher owner in Kalahandi district. He was caught red-handed inside the government headquarters in Dharamgarh while taking the money, officials said. During the ensuing searches, the vigilance teams also recovered Rs 47 lakh in unaccounted cash from his residence. After the arrest, he was suspended from service and sent to judicial custody, after which the Orissa High Court granted him bail.
The case began when a stone crusher businessman working under Chakma’s authority complained that the officer had demanded a bribe of Rs 20 lakh. Based on the complaint, vigilance officers set a trap that led to his arrest, according to investigators.
Who is Diman Chakma?
- Dhiman Chakma is a 2021 batch IAS officer from Tripura.
- He was posted as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh, Kalahandi District, Odisha, at the time of his arrest.
- He underwent vigilance investigation in June 2025
Bribery allegations Related to stone crusher business. - He was arrested on charges of accepting a bribe worth Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 47 lakh in cash was recovered as missing during searches of his house.
- After the arrest, he was suspended from service and remained in judicial custody before the Orissa High Court granted him bail.
- In May 2026, he was reinstated and appointed Deputy Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management.