Latest news with #Vigilance
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Bribery case: Odisha Vigilance searches suspended IAS officer Dhiman Chakma's residence
Bhubaneswar: Special teams of Odisha Vigilance have carried out house searches at different locations in Tripura and Himachal Pradesh in connection with the bribery case linked to Dhiman Chakma, a 2021 batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, who was recently arrested over graft charges. 'Following the arrest of Chakma, the Sub-Collector, Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district on June 9 by Odisha Vigilance in a trap case for demanding and taking bribe Rs 10 lakh from a local businessman, three teams of Odisha Vigilance have been deputed to the states of Tripura and Himachal Pradesh at places linked to Chakma for further verification,' said a Vigilance official on Wednesday. Vigilance sources further noted that the anti-corruption sleuths are carrying out verification and searches at the residential house of Chakma at Kanchanpur, North Tripura and houses of his in-laws at Saminala, under Manali police station area in Kullu district and at Rangbey, under Keylong police limits of Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh, on the strength of search warrants issued by special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna. 'Relevant documents related to deposits and investments in banks and other financial instruments, etc are being collected and scrutinized. Details of other movable/immovable assets are being ascertained from the DA (Disproportionate Assets) angle,' the official added. On June 8, Chakma was caught red handed while taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a local businessman, as an installment of the overall demand of bribe of Rs 20 lakh, threatening to take action against his stone crusher unit. The Vigilance official also recovered Rs 47 lakh cash during searches at his official residence in Dharamgarh. A case has been registered in this connection at the Vigilance Cell under Section 7 Prevention against Corruption Amendment Act, 2018. The Odisha government also placed Chakma on suspension following his arrest. Notably, Chakma, a native of Tripura, had earlier joined the Odisha cadre as an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer in 2019 and served briefly as Assistant Conservator of Forests in Baripada, Mayurbhanj. He later cleared the civil services examination again, secured a higher rank, and was inducted into the IAS in 2021.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Rs 34.3 lakh fund misused in Chilakaluripet municipality, MP Lavu demands probe
GUNTUR: An alleged financial fraud amounting to Rs 34.34 lakh, involving an outsourcing employee: Gangabhavani, has rocked Chilakaluripet Municipality, leading to a climate of fear among municipal staff. So far, disciplinary action has been initiated against 11 employees, with higher officials calling for further action, signalling the seriousness of the irregularities. Municipal Chairman Shaik Rafani wrote to the Director of Vigilance on June 12, urging a comprehensive investigation into the misappropriation of funds by Gangabhavani and other irregularities. Similarly, Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishnadevarayalu have demanded a full-fledged vigilance probe and shot off a letter to Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Minister P Narayana, stressing that transparency must be upheld in the municipality. He requested an immediate and thorough inquiry into the Rs 34 lakh embezzlement and other anomalies reported within the municipality. Both the MLA and MP have emphasised that honest officials must not be victimised in the process and that the people of Chilakaluripet deserve clean and transparent governance.
Hans India
11-06-2025
- Hans India
JE caught while taking bribe
Bhubaneswar: A Junior Engineer was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 from a contractor for clearing pending bills in Bargarh district on Tuesday, a Vigilance official said. Junior Engineer Susmita Oram had joined the government service under the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Bargarh, at Gaisilet block in January 2024. This was her first posting, the officer said. The JE has been apprehended by the Odisha Vigilance official while demanding and taking a bribe of Rs 8,000 from the contractor (complainant) as the last instalment of her overall demand of bribe of Rs 32,000 for measurement and clearing pending bill in connection with the road improvement work under MGNREGA, he said. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 9.50 lakh, out of which, bills worth Rs 3.15 lakh had been paid earlier, he said. The official further said the JE was demanding a bribe of 10 per cent of the paid bill amount to clear pending bills. Out of the total demanded amount Rs 32,000, she had earlier taken Rs 24,000 a few days back and was demanding the remaining amount of Rs 8,000 to clear the rest bill. The entire bribe money has been recovered from the possession of the JE and seized, he said. Following the trap, simultaneous searches were conducted at two locations linked to the JE. A case has been registered at Sambalpur Vigilance police station under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and further investigation is in progress, Vigilance sources said.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- New Indian Express
IAS officer Chakma arrested by Vigilance, sent to judicial custody
The IAS officer had visited Bhubaneswar to attend a two-day state-level workshop of revenue officers at Lok Seva Bhawan here on Wednesday and Thursday. After returning, Chakma allegedly asked the businessman to hand him over Rs 10 lakh as the first installment at his government quarters on Sunday evening. Being informed, the Vigilance team carried out a raid at his residence and seized the bribe money from his possession. During searches, the anti-corruption agency's officers seized an additional Rs 47 lakh cash from his quarters. 'A total of Rs 57 lakh cash was seized from him and a thorough investigation is underway to ascertain the source through which he received such huge amount of money,' said Vigilance sources. A native of Tripura's Kanchanpur, Chakma had joined as Dharamgarh sub-collector in January 2024, which was his first posting after clearing IAS. He had earlier cleared allied services as IFS officer, Odisha cadre, and posted as assistant conservator of forests (ACF) at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district in June, 2021. Meanwhile, Kalahandi collector Sachin Pawar said they will look into the allegations against Chakma after receiving a report from the Vigilance.
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Hans India
IAS officer Chakma arrested for taking Rs 10L bribe
Bhawanipatna: Dharamgarh Sub-Collector and 2021 batch IAS officer Dhiman Chakma was arrested by Odisha Vigilance on Monday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a businessman. The Rs 10 lakh bribe money was an instalment of the overall demand of Rs 20-lakh bribe. Chakma was produced before the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna, which rejected his bail plea and remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. Vigilance sources said the Sub-Collector called the complainant to his official government residence at Dharamgarh, received the bribe amount, verified the 26 number of 100-note bundles of different denominations with both his hands,and kept the same inside his residence office table drawer. 'Both handwash and table drawer wash gave a positive chemical reaction. Following this, further Rs 47 lakh cash has been recovered during searches at his official residence,' said SP, Vigilance cell, Cuttack division, M Radhakrishna. Sources said the Sub-Collector was demanding a huge amount of bribe from the complainant by threatening to take action against the latter's stone crusher unit at Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district. Finding no other way, the owner of the stone crusher unit approached the Vigilance department that set a trap and caught Chakma red-handed on Sunday. The Vigilance sources said a case was registered in this connection at the Vigilance Cell under Section 7 of Prevention against Corruption Amendment Act, 2018. The 2021 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer Chakma hails from Tripura. He had completed his B Tech from National Institute of Technology in Agartala. Dhiman Chakma had joined Odisha cadre as an Indian Forest Service officer of 2019 batch. After undergoing training, he worked as Additional Chief Conservator of Forest at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district from June 2021. Later, Chakma cleared the civil services exam in 2021 and was appointed as IAS officer and assigned Odisha cadre. After training, he joined as Sub-Collector of Dharamgarh in January 2024 and was serving in this position until his arrest.
