Odisha IAS reinstatement: Dhiman Chakma returns to Revenue Department role

The Odisha government has reinstated IAS officer Dhiman Chakma, previously suspended after a 2025 arrest in a bribery case. Official sources say he has been posted as deputy secretary in the Revenue Department and resumed work last month. No official reason has been cited for the reinstatement, while the Vigilance Department investigation details remain on record.

Odisha has brought back IAS officer Dhiman Chakma into government service. Official sources said the officer has returned after a suspension linked to a bribery arrest in 2025. Chakma, from the 2021 IAS batch, has been posted as deputy secretary in the Revenue Department. The sources said Chakma resumed work last month.

Officials said no formal explanation has been shared for the reinstatement. Chakma had been suspended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 10, 2025. The order came a day after Chakma was sent to judicial custody. The custody followed an arrest in a vigilance case tied to an alleged bribe.

Dhiman Chakma reinstatement and Revenue Department posting

According to the sources, Chakma is now serving in the Revenue Department as deputy secretary. The posting followed the earlier suspension from service. The sources said Chakma resumed duties last month. They also said the government has not stated any official reason. The development was reported by official sources on Saturday.

Dhiman Chakma bribery case, arrest and vigilance action

Officials said Chakma was sub-collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district at the time. Vigilance Department sleuths caught Chakma on June 9, 2025. The arrest was linked to an alleged bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a businessman. Officials said Chakma was allegedly caught while accepting the amount.

During later searches, Vigilance officials reportedly recovered Rs 47 lakh in cash. The cash was found at Chakma’s official residence, officials said. Investigators also carried out raids at a residence in Tripura. The officials said the Tripura searches were part of the same probe. The case continued after the arrest and seizures.

In a statement issued then, the Vigilance Department set out the alleged demand. The statement said Chakma had sought Rs 20 lakh from the businessman. The department alleged the demand involved a threat of adverse action against the business. Chakma was allegedly caught taking Rs 10 lakh as an instalment of the amount.

Officials said a criminal case was registered on June 9, 2025. The case was filed under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act, 2018. Chakma was placed under suspension the next day. The suspension followed the judicial custody order. The arrest and case were handled by the Vigilance Department.

Dhiman Chakma career history in IFS and IAS

Before joining the IAS, Chakma served in the Indian Forest Service. Officials said Chakma was an Odisha-cadre IFS officer from the 2019 batch. Chakma worked as assistant conservator of forests in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, from June 2021. After clearing the Civil Services Examination in 2021, Chakma moved to the IAS cadre.

Officials said Chakma later received the posting of sub-collector of Dharamgarh in January 2024. That role placed Chakma in Kalahandi district before the 2025 vigilance arrest. The government has now reinstated Chakma and assigned a new Revenue Department role. The sources said the posting has been implemented, with duties already resumed.

With inputs from PTI