"Operation Desert Safari" continues...

At the same time, I wanted the excitement of
action, but, on the other hand, I couldn’t throw prudence and discretion out of the window.

I was still mulling over the details given by the relatives of Siddhique and the queer dilemma
I was in, when by a happy coincidence, Rajbir Singh, an Assistant Commissioner of the Delhi
Police, Special Cell walked into my office. Rajbir had worked with me in the Delhi Police when
I was Deputy Commissioner of Police of South District and was well known for his detective and
operational skills. Earlier too, I had associated him and his team in several operations undertaken by me in the CBI and we had always come out trumps. I asked for his opinion on what I should do after sharing with him all available details of the case. His opinion was unequivocal; such challenging cases should not be allowed to go elsewhere. He also expressed his keenness to be associated with the investigation in case I decided to take it up. From technical support to armed back up, he was capable of providing invaluable partnership in a case such as this. He had a crack-team under him comprising of trusted and tried go-getters which he offered to place at my disposal, including his own services and expertise. His immediate superiors in the Delhi Police DCP Ashok Chand and Special Commissioner S. Ramakrishnan had given him a carte blanche in as much as collaborating with me was concerned.

Whatever little doubt lurked in my mind had vanished. I rushed to PC Sharma, who was then my immediate superior in the rank of Special Director, and brought the matter to his notice. He too was absolutely clear that we should indeed take up this case in one of our own branches in the Economic Offences Wing and work it out. He was equally sure that like several other operations undertaken in the EOW during my tenure, we would once again succeed. His confidence in me was inspiring and I became determined to come up to his expectations one more time.

To be continued...