“Devil Wears ‘Khaadi’ (The Unmasking of Romesh Sharma)” continues…

In my thirty seven years of police service, I have come across quite a few colleagues, who leave alone giving credit to the rightful and deserving person/s, specialize in stealing it for themselves brazenly and shamelessly. Following the arrest, a certain senior colleague, who had returned to mainstream policing only recently,after a long hiatus, and anxious to announce his arrival with a bang, went on a huge media overdrive to corner the accolades coming the police way. However, many in the government and the media knew the truth and reported that it was primarily a CBI operation led by me.

This was enough to infuriate the man. On seeing my name in the print and electronic media he was livid. He sought time from the then Union Home Minister and played out the tape recorded intercept between Ramesh Malik and Abu Salem. His intention was to insinuate a nexus between Salem and me! That Abu Salem had backed off in the Malik brothers’ dispute, on account of my intervention, was evidence enough to suggest a link between me and the underworld; was the hypothesis put forward by my esteemed senior colleague.

I received a message from the Director’s office, who had been apprised of the contents of the tape by the Home Minister, to reach his office the following morning. The Director asked me what it was all about. He, obviously, didn’t know about the Ramesh Malik –Ashok Malik affair. I narrated the whole story but somehow the Director did not seem to quite comprehend the full import of what I was saying. Gopal Achari, Special Director and my immediate senior, who was also present in the Director’s office, came to my rescue. ‘‘‘If Neeraj’s name can put the fear of God in a gangster, we should be proud of him instead of reading anything suspicious. After all, what are police officers for’’’, said Achari. The Director seemed a bit reassured but said that we were all wanted at Home Minister’s residence in Pandara Park.

To be continued....