Dhiman Chakma, who was once renowned as an inspirational figure among UPSC aspirants in the Northeast, now has his reputation tainted by controversy. The 2021-batch IAS officer was arrested on June 8 by officials of Odisha Vigilance after allegedly being caught red-handed while accepting a Rs. 10 lakh bribe at his official residence in Kalahandi district.
Chakma’s meteoric rise from a small town in Tripura to the Indian Administrative Service had been celebrated as a victory of determination.
He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam twice, first in 2019, getting a spot in the Indian Forest Service (IFS), and then in 2020, securing a higher rank that resulted in his IAS deputation in Odisha. However, only three and a half years, the same officer now finds himself at the centre of serious corruption charges.
The Trap and Seizure
An arrest was made after the complaint of a local businessman operating a stone crusher unit, who alleged that Chakma had sought Rs. 20 lakh to spare his firm official action.
After the businessman paid the first installment of Rs. 10 lakh, the Odisha Vigilance officials laid a trap and arrested Chakma.
According to reports, a chemical test identified bribe traces on his hands and in his office drawer.
Later searches at his home revealed Rs. 47 lakh in cash, and police have widened the probe. Chakma has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988, amended in 2018). Officials are trying to identify the origin of the seized cash and investigating if other officials have any role in it.
From Tripura’s Hills to IAS
Chakma was born in Kanchanpur, Tripura, to a humble family. His father was a school teacher and his mother, a housewife. With limited exposure and resources, he graduated with a B.Tech in Computer Science from NIT Agartala.
He first cleared the UPSC exam in 2019 with rank 722, qualifying for the Indian Forest Service and being posted in Mayurbhanj, Odisha.
Chakma was not ready to give up on his ambition of joining the IAS, though. He returned in 2020 for the exam and scored the 482nd rank, earning a spot in Odisha cadre.
After a year of training, he was appointed as Deputy Collector in Dharamgarh subdivision, where he worked on rural development and governance.
Public Reactions
His arrest became the buzz on social media within minutes, and reactions were widespread shock and dismay. “So much corruption in four years?” one post stated, while another person wanted to know, “What ethics are they teaching prospective administrators?”
The incident has once again raised questions about the moral training of bureaucrats. Most are now wondering if tests such as the UPSC can ever test a candidate’s integrity.
Chakma had himself ranted about the need for ‘transparency and good governance’ in his public speeches and training sessions; virtues now the very essence of the charges against him.
The investigation result may have far-reaching implications for Chakma’s career. Based on the court verdict, he can be suspended or dismissed. Odisha Vigilance continues to scrutinize his previous acts and dealings during money with his stint in Kalahandi in the meantime.
What used to be an icon of bitter victories, Dhiman Chakma’s downfall is something to learn from by civil servants and wannabes alike.
