Agartala, Jun 18: A corruption investigation originating in Odisha has reached Tripura’s doorstep, with Vigilance teams conducting extensive searches at the ancestral home of suspended IAS officer Dhiman Chakma at Kanchanpur in North Tripura, as part of a multi-state probe into alleged bribery and disproportionate asset accumulation worth crores of rupees.
The Odisha Vigilance Department has reportedly formed three specialized teams to examine properties linked to Chakma across Tripura and Himachal Pradesh. The investigation teams conducted searches at Chakma’s ancestral residence at Kanchanpur in North Tripura, while simultaneously examining properties belonging to his relatives in Himachal Pradesh, allegedly including his in-laws’ residence in the Saminala area of Manali in Kullu district and properties in the Rangbe area under Kiling police station in Lahaul-Spiti district.
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While speaking with Ukhrul Times, Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer confirmed that “as part of the operation, they might have come or initiated an operation” in the area.
According to sources, the searches were conducted under warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna. “The teams are carrying out verification and searches at the house of Chakma at Kanchanpur, North Tripura, and the house of his in-laws in Himachal Pradesh, based on search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna,” the department stated.
Officials reportedly added that relevant documents related to bank deposits, investments in financial instruments, and other materials are being scrutinized. Details of movable and immovable assets are allegedly being verified from a disproportionate assets angle.
Chakma, a 2021-batch Odisha cadre IAS officer who worked as sub-collector at Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe on June 9. According to the charges, he reportedly demanded twenty lakh rupees in bribes from a businessman, threatening to take official action against him. When the businessman filed a written complaint with the Vigilance department, officials set up an operation that allegedly resulted in Chakma’s arrest while accepting ten lakh rupees.
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Following the arrest, Vigilance teams conducted searches at his official residence in Dharamgarh and reportedly recovered an additional forty-seven lakh rupees in cash. A case has been registered against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Amendment Act, 2018. Chakma has reportedly been suspended from service pending the investigation.