Here’s something to make you feel depressed for rest of the week

In the light of the fact that the investigation appears to have been compromised upon at the outset, the prosecution of….may well go way of the …case. Chances of others like….facing action are evidently thin. After the current media storm dies down, Delhi’s political class will, in all probability, go back to its old ways

…There are reasons to believe that Sharma’s career thrived on what might be best described as influence arbitrage – acting as a middleman in the buying and selling of political power. Evidence has surfaced that at the time of his arrest on October 20, Sharma was working to divide the anti-Bharatiya Janata Party vote.

…AT least two points were important at this stage. First, although rumours that Sharma had underworld contacts had long been in circulation, the Delhi Police did not appear to have a desire to establish the truth. Instead of attracting investigative curiosity, his affluence attracted a protective shield. It took events in a distant State to force the Delhi Police into a position where it had no option but to launch a surveillance operation.

Secondly, some top politicians, certain big business houses and even some journalists appear to have displayed a similarly relaxed attitude to rumours about Sharma’s alleged links. Clearly, in Delhi’s circles of power, such matters did not amount to much. Sharma was just one of the many hired guns, no more or less exceptionable than the others.

…The Delhi Police finally acted. Sharma’s problems were compounded by the presence of Amod Kant, an officer with a reputation for personal probity, who was recently posted as Joint Commissioner of Police for south Delhi. Kant issued orders to rescue Suresh Rao and raid Sharma’s farmhouses. During the raids at the farmhouses and the Mayfair Gardens homes, police officials found 15 cars, including three Mercedes Benz models, shares worth Rs. 1 crore, gold and silver valued at Rs. 50 lakhs and skins of various animals, including those of protected species such as the tiger and the leopard. The weapon that was allegedly used to threaten Suresh Rao, a prohibited bore .32 Smith and Wesson, was also seized. Documents regarding dozens of property transactions in Mumbai and Delhi were recovered. According to the police, Sharma’s modus operandi was as follows: he would rent a property, refuse to vacate it, and then use threats to secure a sale at bargain-basement prices.

…INTERESTINGLY, Sharma’s past is as opaque as his political career…In 1981, Sharma purchased a large plot of land adjoining the Sun and Sand Hotel on Mumbai’s expensive Juhu beach area, where he built a house. He continued to divert his profits into the real estate business. Sharma told the police that the Juhu beach property brought him in contact with Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Anees. Sharma alleged that Dawood had wanted to use the property as a landing pad for smuggled goods, and that the property was burnt down when he refused to accede to the demand. Sharma claimed that he had been granted security cover following the intervention of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar subsequent to this incident.

…The contents of Sharma’s meticulously maintained diary, listing appointments with politicians and businessmen, has not been made public. Delhi Police officials say that they are investigating Sharma’s connections with these people, but given their record on the issue, any sort of comprehensive disclosure is unlikely. Even the Congress(I), which ought to have seen political opportunity in Sharma’s arrest, seems to be embarrassed to push the issue too hard.

Thanks to Vikash for bringing this to my attention…It reminded me of Akbar Allahabadi: “…Har Shaakh pe Ullu Baitha Hai, Anjaame-e-Gulistaan kyaa hogaa?”

Image courtesy: V S Ramanathan, Frontline