Odisha CM Majhi Warns Government Employees After IAS, OAS Arrests for Corruption

In a bold declaration at a recent ‘Nijukti Mela’ (appointment fair), Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued a stern warning to government employees, emphasising his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

The statement comes in the wake of two high-profile arrests that have shaken the state’s bureaucratic circles.

Aswini Kumar Panda, the 2019-batch Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) topper, was arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 15,000 bribe to facilitate land conversion. Odisha Vigilance recovered Rs 4.73 lakh in cash and gold ornaments during subsequent searches.

Similarly, Dhiman Chakma, a 2021-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was caught red-handed accepting Rs 10 lakh from a businessman. A raid on his residence uncovered Rs 47 lakh in cash.

“These young officers had every opportunity and privilege, yet they chose corruption,” Majhi said. “Let this be a warning—no one is above the law.”

The CM’s remarks signal a renewed push for preventive vigilance and stricter oversight. The Chief Secretary has directed departments to exclude tainted officials from key roles, reinforcing the government’s commitment to clean governance.