Once an inspiring story, IAS officer falls from grace
BHUBANESWAR: IAS officer Dhiman Chakma (36), facing serious corruption charges after being caught accepting Rs 10 lakh bribe in Kalahandi district on Sunday, was once celebrated on social media for his inspiring journey.
Chakma, who was sent to judicial custody on Monday following the rejection of his bail plea, began his career as an assistant conservator of forests in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district in June 2021, following his selection to the Indian Forest Service (2019 batch).
In Jan 2024, he joined as sub-collector at Dharmagar in Kalahandi after clearing the IAS exam.
His journey of becoming an IAS officer had captured public imagination in 2020 when he cleared the UPSC civil services exam.
As the first successful candidate from Kanchanpur, a remote town in Tripura, his achievement was noteworthy. His story, featuring accounts of his preparation and eventual triumph, had gone viral on social media, inspiring countless aspirants from the region.
However, the narrative took a dark turn when Odisha vigilance arrested Chakma on corruption charges. The anti-corruption officials recovered Rs 10 lakh in bribe money during the operation, and a subsequent house search yielded an additional Rs 47 lakh in cash.
by Taboola
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"We are verifying his movable and immovable assets. Policy related decisions taken by him are being scrutinised," a vigilance official said. According to vigilance sources, three days before his arrest, Chakma attended a two-day conference of revenue officials in Bhubaneswar where chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi and revenue minister Suresh Pujari warned all attendees about the consequences of engaging in corrupt practices.
The contrast between Chakma's past and present has sparked intense discussions on social media. Users are sharing his old videos alongside recent images showing him in custody with the recovered cash.
"This case underscores how quickly public servants can deviate from their sworn duties in the very beginning of their career. It is very disappointing given his promising beginning and the hope he had sown in the heart of young aspirants," said retired DGP, Santosh Kumar Upadhyay.
"The incident has prompted broader discussions about the need for stronger accountability measures," retired chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said.
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