Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has reinstated 2021-batch IAS officer Dhiman Chakma and posted him as Deputy Secretary in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, nearly a year after he was suspended following his arrest in a corruption case. The government has clarified that the reinstatement is an administrative decision under service rules and does not amount to a clean chit, as departmental inquiry and court proceedings will continue.
Bribery Case Led To Suspension
Chakma was serving as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district in 2025 when he came under the scanner of anti-corruption authorities. He was accused of accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh from a businessman operating a stone-crusher unit.
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Vigilance officials allegedly caught him while accepting the bribe and later arrested him. Searches were also carried out at his official residence, where officials claimed to have recovered approximately ₹47 lakh in cash.
Following the arrest and recovery, the Odisha government placed Chakma under suspension on June 10, 2025, and initiated departmental proceedings against him. A detailed inquiry into the allegations was also launched.
Bail Granted, Proceedings Continue
After being produced before a court, Chakma remained in judicial custody before securing bail from the Orissa High Court in July 2025. Despite the bail, the departmental inquiry and the criminal case linked to the alleged bribery continued.
For more than a year, he remained under suspension while authorities reviewed his case under service regulations applicable to officers of the All India Services.
Government sources said prolonged suspension cases are periodically examined under service rules. Following such a review, the state government decided to reinstate Chakma and assign him a posting.
Government Says Posting Is Not Exoneration
Officials have stressed that the reinstatement should not be interpreted as innocence or exoneration. The departmental inquiry will continue, and the criminal proceedings before the court will move independently.
The government’s future action will depend on the outcome of the inquiry and the final court verdict. If the allegations are established, disciplinary action may follow under applicable rules.
For now, Chakma’s return to service has drawn attention in administrative and political circles. The state government maintains that the decision is procedural, while the final determination of the corruption allegations will depend on the ongoing departmental and judicial proceedings.
