Vigilance searches properties in Tripura, HP linked to arrested IAS officer's kin
Bhubaneswar: Days after arresting IAS officer Dhiman Chakma on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a stone miner in Kalahandi district, the state vigilance directorate on Wednesday conducted simultaneous searches at properties linked to his family and relatives in Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Three teams carried out verification and searches at the residence of Chakma at Kanchanpur in North Tripura and houses of his in-laws at Saminala in Kullu district and Rangbey in Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal.
"Relevant documents related to deposits and investments in banks and other financial instruments among others were collected and scrutinised during the house search. Details of other movable and immovable assets are being ascertained from disproportionate assets (DA) angle," an official vigilance statement read.
Chakma, a 2021-batch IAS officer, on his first posting as sub-collector in Dharamgarh, was arrested on June 8 at his official residence in Kalahandi, while allegedly receiving Rs 10 lakh — the initial instalment of a Rs 20 lakh demand — from Harsha Bardhan Behera, who owns a stone crusher unit. Subsequent searches at his quarters led to the discovery of Rs 47 lakh in cash.
"We are trying to find out the sources through which he accumulated the huge ill-gotten cash.
If anyone paid him bribes previously, they should help us gather more evidence against him. His official decisions taken in the past are under scrutiny," a vigilance officer said.
Following his suspension on June 10, Chakma remains in judicial custody. The interstate investigation of his assets occurred after the vigilance court in Bhawanipatna rejected his bail application on Tuesday.
Sources said Chakma solicited the bribe to safeguard Behera's stone mining operations. In Aug 2024, the mines department had levied a Rs 1.6 crore penalty on Behera for excessive stone mining. Chakma purportedly demanded Rs 20 lakh to reduce or eliminate the fine.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
120 CCTV cameras to enhance security in Jeevakona
Tirupati: To enhance security in the sprawling Jeevakona, a predominant labour area in the city, the police administration decided to install 120 CCTV cameras at a cost of Rs 31 lakh. Speaking to the media along with district Collector Dr S Venkateswar here on Wednesday, district SP Harshavardhan Raju said 120 CCTV cameras include two cameras with latest technology to capture the number plates of the vehicles and one face recognition, which will help in crime detection and control. Informing that the entire cost of the installation of CCTV cameras is borne by Gemini Edible and Fats India Limited under Corporate Social Responsibility, he thanked Sales and Marketing Manager Chandra Sekhar Reddy and Tirupati Chamber of Commerce president Ayyappa, who were present in the meeting. Collector Dr S Venkateswar lauded the district police for introducing latest technology like drones and CCTV cameras for traffic management and crime. He recalled sanction of Rs 30 lakh to the police department for inducting drone cameras that are now proving of immense help to police department in maintaining law and order and efficient traffic management to cope with increasing population including pilgrims. ASP Ravi Manoharachari, Nagabhushanam, Sadik Ali, Sriramulu, Imran Basha were present.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
18-year-old aspiring actor duped with fake offer, blackmailed with morphed photos
Mumbai Police have registered a case against several individuals for allegedly cheating an 18-year-old aspiring actress by falsely promising her a role in a web series. The accused reportedly took money from the victim through online transactions and later threatened to leak digitally altered photos of her on social media if she did not pay additional to police, the victim received a WhatsApp message on June 11 from a man who introduced himself as 'Bhavesh,' a producer linked to 'GM Studio.' He also mentioned a director named Rahul Patel and offered her a role in an upcoming web Believing the offer to be genuine, the victim shared her portfolio, Instagram handle and YouTube links with Bhavesh. Over the next few days, Bhavesh kept in regular contact, discussed the project's storyline and introduced her to a man named Shivam Agarwal, who was allegedly cast as her co-actor in the web from an Instagram account named ' added to the impression of a legitimate production setup. Soon after, Bhavesh requested Rs 2,000 for flight arrangements, followed by further demand of approximately Rs 6,000 citing ticket bookings and a medical emergency. The police informed that a total of Rs 7,836 was transferred by the victim via India Post Payments days later, the victim was asked to meet Shivam at the Metro INOX Theatre in Churchgate for a supposed rapport-building session. Interestingly, Shivam identified himself as 'Bhavesh' at the theatre's ticket counter. After the meeting, he dropped her off at Andheri and that day, Bhavesh called the victim and claimed that Shivam was acting erratically and insisted that she meet him again. When she refused, the conversation took a threatening turn, following which the victim blocked Bhavesh's number. On June 15, she received a morphed obscene image of herself along with a demand for Rs 40,000. The sender threatened to send the image to her father and post it on social media if she did not harassment escalated when Bhavesh began messaging her from another number he had earlier claimed belonged to his sister, repeating the threats. Despite blocking several numbers, extortion calls continued late into the night of June 17, warning her of public defamation unless she contacted a specific number shared by the and fearing for her safety and reputation, the victim approached the DN Nagar Police and filed a formal complaint. In her statement, she named Bhavesh, Shivam Agarwal and other unidentified individuals as the DN Nagar Police have registered a case under relevant provisions and an investigation is underway, with officials currently examining digital evidence linked to the Watch IN THIS STORY#Mumbai
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Hyderabad: Eight arrested in drug bust
Hyderabad: .Commissioner's Task Force, West Zone Team, working in coordination with Masab Tank Police Station, has apprehended eight individuals involved in the possession of narcotic substances. Police seized hash oil valued at Rs 2.25 lakh, along with dry ganja, charas, and knives. Police arrested peddlers Mohammed Faizan of Masab Tank and Yelagada Navya of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Sub peddlers Kundurthi Veerachary, Sam Ajay Kumar, Vemula Harshith, and Mohammed Sameer were also apprehended. Additionally, consumers Sam Vijay Kumar and Syed Murthuza Ali Hussain were taken into custody. According to police, four individuals – Murthuza, Faizan, Harshith, and Sameer – were initially apprehended near the Pension Office Bus Stop, Masab Tank. During the operation, a small box containing hash oil and charas was seized from Faizan. Furthermore, two daggers and 175 grams of dry ganja were found concealed in Faizan's motorbike. A small box of hash oil was also discovered on Sameer. Upon initial enquiry, Faizan revealed that the dry ganja and charas had been brought from Nagpur, and he had procured the hash oil from Harshith and Sameer for Rs 3,000. During further questioning, Sameer disclosed that the hash oil had been purchased from Ajay and Veerachary. Based on this information, Ajay and Veerachary were apprehended at Gajularamaram, along with a consumer, Vijay, who is Ajay's brother. Later, police nabbed Navya, who was found with 71 small boxes of hash oil. Upon interrogation, she stated that the hash oil had been supplied by an individual from Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad City Police urged young individuals to steer clear of drugs and to avoid succumbing to the allure of easy money or addiction. They warned that substance abuse leads to devastating consequences, including loss of employment, severe mental and physical health issues, and criminal records that can irrevocably damage one's future. The public is advised to immediately inform the police by dialling 100 if they encounter any drug peddling or suspicious activities.
