The Odisha Vigilance Department on Sunday caught Dhiman Chakma, a 2021 batch IAS officer, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. Chakma, posted as a Sub-Collector in Odisha's Kalahandi district, had demanded Rs 20 lakh from a local businessman, and was allegedly accepting a part instalment of the bribe.

The businessman, who filed a complaint against Chakma, alleged that the IAS officer threatened to act against his business if he did not pay him the amount demanded.

According to the complaint, the Sub-Collector called him to his official government residence in Odisha's Dharamgarh, received the bribe amount, and put it inside a table drawer there.

Chakma, in his mid-30s, “called the complainant to his official government residence at Dharamgarh, received the bribe amount and kept the same inside his table drawer”, news agency PTI quoted the vigilance department as saying.

The officer allegedly counted all 26 bundles of Rs 100 notes of different denominations and then placed the cash inside the drawer of his residence office table. The Vigilance Department also recovered around Rs 47 lakh worth of cash during searches from his official residence.

Following the IAS officer's arrest and the cash recovery from his house, a case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018.

Further investigation against Chakma is underway, the officials said.

Source: India Today