Officer and a gentleman
D. R. KAARTHIKEYAN
Anyone who had the good fortune of even a fleeting
acquaintance with Radha Vinod Raju is sure to have been affected by his sudden
passing away, yesterday.
I learnt only a couple of days ago that he was in hospital
being treated for acute lung infection, but I was given to understand that he
was on the mend. I was hoping to go to Kochi and look him up when he got
better.
On Thursday morning the tragic news was that he was no more.
That the life of such a noble person has been snatched away so soon is deeply
saddening, but Raju, who was spiritual and philosophical, like me, believed
that the body is only a garment; when it goes, the soul lives forever.
Raju was a rare being, a true embodiment of all the
admirable qualities of head and heart — a sincere and affectionate friend, an
ideal officer, a perfect gentleman.
I consider it my privilege that he was my valued colleague
in the investigation of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, and in the 21 years since
then, a valued and dear friend.
I was Inspector-General of the Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF), Southern sector at Hyderabad when on the day after Rajiv Gandhi’s
assassination on May 21, 1991, I was asked to take up the investigation of the
case.
The first step was to form the Special Investigation Team
(SIT). When R.V. Raju came to report to me at “Malligai,” the SIT’s
headquarters at Chennai, it was the first time that we met. He was from the
Jammu and Kashmir cadre, which had deputed him only for a short while. He
impressed me greatly with his good manners, humility, commitment and clarity of
thinking and expression.
I made him head of the Tracking Team, tasked to collect
intelligence and track the elusive members and sympathisers of the LTTE, who
were wanted for the assassination. In no time he put together a team of junior
officers from different backgrounds and led the team from the front. He
travelled long distances day and night in pursuit of the wanted persons. Often,
he would forego sleep and food. He was an inspiration to his team members. He
won their dedication to him and to a difficult and risky mission. He also
believed in a truthful, impartial and fair investigation. When, after a few
months at Chennai, he was asked to return to his parent cadre, I requested for
an extension of his tenure with the SIT CBI. After one extension, the Director,
CBI told me that the governments of India and J&K were not agreeable to
further extending his deputation.
An extension
So I called on the Union Home Secretary and requested him to
permit Raju to continue with the SIT. He told me it was the J&K government
that was insistent on Raju’s return to Srinagar. I went all the way to Srinagar
and called on the Governor — the State was then under President’s rule.
The Governor said the State was short of good senior
officers and Raju was wanted back for an important assignment. I had to explain
to him how indispensible Raju was to the SIT at that critical stage of the
investigation, the successful outcome of which was vital for the prestige,
security and integrity of the nation.
My insistence paid off, and the Governor allowed Raju’s
further extension. While Raju was grateful to me for my taking so much personal
interest in his continuance with the SIT at Chennai, the entire team of
investigators and prosecutors was overjoyed.
Raju always told me and others that but for my willingness
to stand by the truth at all costs, the investigation would have been derailed
by self-seeking personalities for whom settling personal scores was more
important than upholding the interests of the nation.
When many urged me to write a book about the investigation,
I was hesitant as I thought it would be difficult to sum up that massive work
in a book of 250 pages. It was Raju who pursued the idea and convinced me that
we could do it. With his phenomenal memory for minute details and the smallest
occurrences and incidents, he played a vital role in the preparation of my book
on the assassination — Triumph of Truth.
At a personal level, he and his family have been very close
to me and my family. He was there to share my moments of happiness and sorrow
at all times. He was an officer of integrity, fairness and courage, yet a
sensitive person, always sympathetic to the problems of others.
With his passing, I feel I have lost a part of myself. His
life and career are worthy of emulation. I salute him.
(D.R. Kaarthikeyan is former Director, CBI, and headed the
,investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.)
COMMENTS(3)RECOMMENDEDPOST A COMMENT
It was a right tribute to someone whose demise might have
gone unnoticed in this egoistic society. It is rare to see dedicated officers
who take national interest to forefront and face adversities with bravery. We
salute the great man. As any dedicated person Mr.R.V.Raju also took Bhagavat
Gita as his Guiding light and proved It's relevance to dedication once again.
from: Raji
Posted on: Jun 24, 2012 at 06:32 IST
It is very rare to come across in today's world to see a
person like Mr Raju a man of clean image, impeccable character and dedication
of his life to Public service. It was a fine tribute to the late Mr Raju likes
of whom are born lesser and lesser.
from: raghavan
vasudevan
Posted on: Jun 22, 2012 at 20:11 IST
It is a moving tribute by one of the highly respected Police
Officer to his team member who also happens to be equally respected and
decorated. Not many including me may know that Mr. Radha Vinodh Raju was in the
SIT team which investigated and brought to book the killers of the former Prime
Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. I pray for the departed soul to rest in peace and
convey my heartfelt condolances to be bereaved family.
from: J. Subramanian
Posted on: Jun 22, 2012 at 13:44 IST
