Sahay’s tryst with controversy

Published in The Pioneer September 10, 2012

Sahay’s tryst with controversy 

More to story than Colgate 

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Union Tourism Minister and Congress’ heavyweight Subodh Kant Sahay hates to go through those odd pages of ‘Open Secret: India’s Intelligence Unveiled’ by Intelligence Bureau’s former Joint Director MK Dhar, that unlock certain well guarded vaults of secrets of Sahay as Home Minister (state) in the Chandrasekhar led government during 1991-92. 

Sahay has often been a multilayer story — dived in intriguing plots and subplots — that speak about his relationship with controversy as a politician and minister.

Sahay recently found himself under the heap of Colgate scam after he wrote letter of recommendation to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek coal blocks for the company ‘SKS Ispat and Power Limited’ where his brother is Sudhir Kumar Sahay is an honorary director.

Sahy leaped from one press conference to another distributing copes of Delhi High Court’s order to explain media and people that neither he nor his brother had any relation with the said company. But nothing could stop his name and deeds turning into banner headline of morning dispatches. Hemmed and haunted Sahay accepted his bother having relation with the said company with great mayhem job on morality saying he did no moral wrongdoings.

Dhar passed away in month of May, this year, but left behind his narratives riddled with too many negatives: his associations with controversial godman Chandraswami and his key aide Mamaji aka KN Agrawal with whom he was indulged in many wheeling-dealings.

“Some of his deals relating to purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab were routed through Chandraswami. A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched after the minister and the targeted supplier had an exclusive meeting at the abode of the Swami,” book reads.

Dhar was seventh addition to his personal office which Dhar was unwilling to undertake. Sahay along with Swami were eager to clinch personal and political deals and gains and wanted Dhar to be the party of to this even offering him financial packages. Referring to two such deals which were of particular interest of Chandrasekhar also, Dhar wrote: “He (Sahay) said that his intentions were honourable and he wanted to liberate me from the miseries of pecuniary constraints ….”

Congress’ late Rajiv Gandhi extending support to the Chandasekhar government from outside was particularly averse about these two deals which Dhar does not disclose owing to the sensitivity of the matter. Late Gandhi was very critical about Swami and his involvement and IB considered Swami as a security threat which Sahayhad ruled out. Later on, Justice Jain Commission, probing broader conspiracy behind killing of Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991 by the LTTE made damming references to Chandraswami.

Sahay kept him out of his private enterprises except on occasion when he demanded fat amounts from the secret service fund of the IB. “Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn,” Dhar writes.

“The most bizarre incident of that phase was the decision of Sahay,” Dhar writes, “to seek re-election to the parliament from Ludhiana constituency,” with the help of Manjit Singh and likes. Singh, president of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF), having dubious terror records had come in touch with Sahay during Centre’s secret bid to open parallel peace process in Punjab with other outfits. Chandraswami, Mamaji and Punjab’s truckers lobby were there to mobilize finance for him, Sahay lost 1991 general election from Ludhiana.

The observation made by Dhar was even produced as evidence before Jharkhand High Court in 2007 by one of his relatives Hitesh Verma, a senior Ranchi based CCL official whom Sahay conspired to transfer to Margareta coliiray Assam allegedly to settle personal scores. Verma produced it as evidence to claim that Sahay may physically harm him in Assam by using his connection if he was transferred. The court had quashed his transfer order.

Sahay has a rich library but that particular book is missing from his bookshelves.

More skeltons keep tumbling out of the cupboard

Purchases made for the police and paramilitary forces in Assam and Punjab routed through Chandraswami.

A particular jeep deal for Assam was clinched at the abode of the Swami.

Tried to bribe IB head for certain deals

Ignored IB’s report over Chandraswami as security threat

Justice Jain Commission’s observation came to conform it.

“Funds (secret service) were not utilized for the purposes these were drawn.

Ignored IB’s suggestion to start police operation in Assam against separatist groups.

Sought re-election from Ludhiana constituency with the help of Manjit Singh and likes of All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF).