Radha Vinod Raju lived a life of dignity, full of energy and enthusiasm. He wanted to leave also in dignity and he did it.
I had him as my colleague in the investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. I was asked to take up the case when I was IG of the CRPF at Hyderabad. When Raju came to report to me at Malligai SIT Headquarters at Chennai, it was the first time we met.
He was on a short assignment from the Jammu and Kashmir cadre.Raju impressed me very much with his good manners, humility, commitment and clarity of thinking and expression.
I made him head of the Tracking Team. In no time, he put together a team of officers from different backgrounds and led it from the front. He travelled long distances day and night, often without food and sleep. He motivated the team members who remained totally dedicated to him and the cause.
He believed in truthful, impartial and fair investigation and earned the respect and love of all the colleagues. When he was asked to return to his parent cadre of J&K, I sought extension of his tenure. After one extension, the CBI Director told me that the Union Government and the J&K Government were not agreeing to further extension of his deputation.
But Raju was keen on continuing with the SIT till the successful completion of the investigation. So I called on the Union Home Secretary and made the request for his extension. Later, I met the J&K Governor. He said they were short of good officers. I had to explain how indispensable Raju was to the SIT at the critical stage of investigation.
At last he allowed the extension. Raju was overjoyed and the entire team was happy. I never took any decision without consulting my officers. Some most sensitive decisions were taken after consulting Raju.
Some confidential information was sent by me after being agreed to or as amended by Raju. He always told me that but for my willingness to stand by the truth, the investigation would have derailed.
There were requests that I should record the salient features of the investigation. It was Raju who convinced me to do it. He played a vital role in the preparation of my book ‘The Triumph of Truth’.
An officer of integrity, fairness and courage, Raju was always sympathetic to the problems of his junior officers. I feel I have lost a part of myself. It’s rare to come across a personality and an officer like Raju. A life and career worthy of emulation. I salute him!
(The author is the former director of the CBI and chief of the Special Investigation Team which probed the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case)