On Whistle-blowers, Murder and Corruption in high places
Satyendra Dubey, Manjunath and now Yogendra Pandey…
As I read the news about investigation into Yogendra Pandey’s death yesterday, I wondered where does the trail of death end?
Last week (18th June) Yogendra Pandey, an engineer responsible for road-works in Bihar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Sitamarhi collectorate premises.
On 25th Jun, the government of Bihar finally recommended the case to centre for a CBI enquiry. Indian Express reported that “…the police term the death (of Sh. Pandey) a suicide even as the second autopsy and forensic sciences reports suggest murder…”
In an Op-Ed, it noted:
…Yogendra Pandey had upset powerful interests by cancelling a road contract for non-performance. In response he was beaten; the arrested culprit soon released on bail. Pandey then asked for police security, a request that was trapped in red tape before permission was finally granted a full year later. Even then, no cops were deployed around Pandey; when he died, he died alone.
Preliminary indications suggest that Pandey joins the ranks of Satyendra Dubey and Manjunath Shanmugam — whistle-blowers whom the state failed to protect.
P.S. While not a case of whistle-blowing, it would not be misplaced to recall the the tragic death of UP PWD Engineer Manoj Gupta here. Sh. Gupta was beaten to death last year allegedly by supporters of the local MLA after he refused to contribute funds to a political party [ also here and here ].
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This sort of hatchet jobs by the political parties is one major reason why people with intelligence and some ambition do not want to get into the mess known as the Indian Government(political, civil, you name it).
The Govt. will now announce a few lakhs for his family, the media will show token rage at these incidents and the killers in all likelihood get away free.
Is this corrupt mess the price we pay for getting freedom?
Dirt digger:
This is the way it is because this is the way indians want it to be.
Wasn’t the Manjunath case an Indian Express sham job, like Arundhati’s work of fiction. Of course, he was killed, but there was a lot of stuff which was manufactured?
Another true son of our great motherland down. Did he not know , like most people, that as a consequence of his actions he was putting himself into grave danger ? I am sure he would have and went ahead regardless, unlike most people.
There are no great men. They are normal human beings and do what their dharma is. The rest who are crawling in dust and filth find that these normal people standing so high up and above them….and hence “Great”.
I hope Yogendra Pandey inspires me to do my bit to prove to myself that I am normal.
@Anon: would have been helpful if you could have provided a link/ some evidence.
Such a shame and what a tragedy…when will we arise from our slumber…see the power of a collective force and action. I salute this man for doing what he knew was right.
The internet is a powerful platform against corruption, by enabling citizen journalism. In a way, the internet provides a protective cover for whistle blowers.
However, in India, the Police are given such sweeping powers over the internet. Some of these are potent powers that are safe ONLY in the hands of the judiciary (the Police in any country can’t be trusted with justice. especially overall justice; and especially, Police in India: By and large, don’t our Police consider themselves the servants of the political class and the rich and powerful ?). Even in developed countries where Police can’t be easily influenced by private interests, Police powers are limited by design in favour of individual liberty. For example, a subpoena has to be obtained through the Court first, in the U.S.A, before the identity of an internet author can be sought.
In India, citizen journalists and whistle blowers are under great threat of being exposed through the Police being so willing to misuse their powers, subservient to private interests that are displeased about being exposed.
This is based on actual incidents, and not hypothetical scenarios !
Citizens, be warned of the dangers of sweeping powers.
What a sad incident again 🙁 People like Satyendranath, Manjunath and now Yogendra are true heroes of our nation. Obviously these guys are not going to get much media exposure or support or any movement going in their direction. 🙁 I pity for these families who have lost their sons who went ahead as whistle-blowers to expose corruption and systemic filth in Govt offices. Loss of such high integrity people is a real big shame for India. Unfortunately, nothing is ever going to bring them back.Will such incidents create more brave whistleblowers .. only time will tell…
*** COMMENT EDITED ***
Why did he not hesitated from travel at night in rikshow in a crime ridden city. A person seeking for security must have taken precaution.
*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***
Rasmi: I have edited your comment for two reasons: One, it makes personal comments of a very serious nature which are not substantiated. Two, personally I do not like to speak ill of the dead. Let their souls rest in peace.
Whistleblowers these days use email from companies like Yahoo, or GMail.
<a href="http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=622292"Yahoo sells contents of users email to US agencies.
(Even Indian politicians are using yahoo or gmail or hotmail and this is how they can become easy prey and controllable at will. The Congress try to muzzle Shashi Tharoor from using Twitter but a lot of inner party communication has now been overflowing into yahoo, hotmail territories as email usage is increasing without equal increase in safe and secure usage. Expect to see more “Climategate” kind of exposes in future).
@ whistleblowers: Your comment is borderline off-topic. To make it more relevant, you could have suggested alternative to the services you have mentioned.
I am letting it stay – giving you the benefit of doubt.
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From Manjunath killer’s death commuted:
in deciding punishment for the main accused in the killing of the Indian Oil Corp area sales officer, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC on Friday ruled that since it did not fit into the ‘‘rarest of rare’’ category, the chief accused’s death sentence be commuted to life.
…The verdict was clearly disappointing for many of these, who had hoped that the harshest punishment would send a message. However, members of Manujanth Shanmugham Trust (MST) and the prosecution did not immediately say they would appeal against the verdict. Future action would be decided only after examining the 177-page judgment which, they said, had left them disillusioned after four years of sustained effort.
‘‘This is not the end of the road. We have not given up,’’ said senior high court lawyer IB Singh, who represented MST. The mood at Shanmugham household was no different. ‘‘I just spoke to my parents and as law abiding citizens we all respect the HC verdict. But we would surely take legal advise to decide on our future course of action,’’ said Raghwendra Shanmugham, younger brother of Manjunath. Talking to TOI on phone from Bangalore, Raghwendra reiterated ‘‘we have full confidence in judiciary’’.
The senior Shanmugham, too, sounded low but confident. ‘‘The High Court must have done whatever was the right thing to do. But being his father, I surely won’t give up,’’ he said. ‘‘We will consult MST and the legal experts and jointly decide on the best possible option,’’ he added.
During proceedings, Justices KK Misra and DV Sharma observed: ‘‘Admittedly, appellant Monu Mittal committed the ghastly murder of Manjunath. But even then, in the circumstances of the present case, we are of considered opinion that the offence does not fall under the rarest of rare category.’’
From RTI activist Satish Shetty killed near Pune:
…Prominent Right to Information (RTI) activist Satish Shetty was killed on Wednesday when he was attacked by unidentified men while on a morning walk in the outskirts of Maharashtra town Talegaon.
Shetty, 38, credited with exposing several land scams in the picturesque Talegaon-Lonavala regions, now a favourite with realtors in the state, succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
…He had shot to fame after exposing certain corrupt land deals in and around the country’s first expressway from Mumbai to Pune over a decade ago.