“Gifts from the Gulf” continues…

When Brajesh Mishra said he would call the US Ambassador to his office the following day, the Prime Minister retorted that it should be done immediately. Presumably, before Director CBI telephoned me, the US Ambassador had been spoken to and he was willing to help. He was waiting for a dossier on Aftab Ansari at the US Embassy before proceeding further. Director, CBI asked me if I could get the dossier from my office and hand it over to the US Ambassador. I said the dossier was with me in my briefcase and I could reach it in five minutes. I then lived in Chanakya Puri in a government accommodation, close to the American Embassy. When I reached the Embassy on Shanti Path, I was taken to its Banquet Hall. A dinner was being hosted in the honor of the visiting FBI Chief by the US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill. A dossier with a photograph of Aftab Ansari, his Dubai mobile number, passport details etc. was received by a senior embassy staffer on behalf of the Ambassador. I returned home a happy man. We had practically pulled out all the stops and done everything that was possible for us to get the fugitive.
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On February 5, 2002 I was in a meeting at the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) in their office on Parliament Street when Ambassador Singh called me on my mobile from Abu Dhabi. I excused myself from the meeting to take his call. ‘‘‘Aap ka banda pakad liya hai, aap jaldi Dubai aa jao (Your guy has been arrested. Come to Dubai soon)’’’, said the Ambassador in a matter of fact and officious manner.

To be continued…