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Corruption, CBI and I: More than Memoirs of a Veteran Scam-Buster
About the Book General AS Vaidya, Sanjay Dutt, Syed Modi, Ameeta and Sanjay Singh, Harshad Mehta, S Venkitaramanan, V Krishnamurthy, Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Yakub Memon, Jayanti Dharma Teja, Kalpnath Rai and the former Nizam of Hyderabad – these names are well known to most Indians. One was a decorated senior officer of the Indian Army who was brutally murdered near the Pune Cantonment. Another was a film star who was jailed for illegally possessing a weapon. One was a badminton champion who was murdered after he got embroiled in a sensational tale of passion and infidelity. The others included a disgraced stockbroker, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a former Member of the Planning Commission, all of whose names were connected to the country’s biggest-ever financial scandal that took place in the early-1990s. One was a socalled gangster who was killed in an ‘encounter’ with the police, one who was hanged to death and another was a shipping tycoon who could be described as India’s ‘original Vijay Mallya.’ Yet another was a minister in the Union government who was arrested for his links with criminals, while one was suspected of taking away from the country most valuable antique gold mohurs.Is there anything common among these persons who come from completely different backgrounds and circumstances? Yes. He used to be one of India’s top scam-busters and investigator into crimes of all kinds. These are his memoirs. Shantonu Sen worked in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for more than three decades. This book is not just a compilation of some of the most amazing factual stories of crime and punishment (or the absence of it). Based on his first-hand experience, it documents how the criminal justice system in India works (or does not) and the infamous nexus between politicians and criminals in the country over the last several decades. About the Authors SHANTONU SEN is a member of the first batch to be recruited by the Union Public Service Commission to work in the Delhi Special Police Establishment that became the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In his 33 year tenure, he investigated some of the most sensational and best-known cases that hogged headlines in the country.SANJUKTA BASU is a New Delhi-based writer, photographer and feminist scholar. She has worked as a communications consultant in non-profit organisations and practiced law. She currently writes on women’s issues, politics and minority rights and is also pursuing a Ph.D on Gender Studies.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2020
28 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 13, 2020
Once I began reading the book over the weekend, it was a treat and I found it hard to stop. The book deals with cases which were success stories and also cases that the CBI failed to solve. Your leadership as a mentor stands out as team members, colleagues and juniors involved in various investigations have been given credit, wherever due.
Bold, intrepid, objective and balanced – I was awestruck by the limpid perspicacity of the Book.
It is clear you do not believe in sesquipedalian loquaciousness nor are given to rodomontade. Your ideas of investigation are unembellished with tortuous convolutions and expressed without ostentation.
Corruption exists because the society wants it. It benefits everyone. Even the Modi government elected on the plank of anti - corruption has failed to live up to its expectations. The office of the Lok Pal is as lame as any other anti – corruption body in the country.
The midnight coup at the CBI Office to replace the CBI Director investigating the Rafale deal and installation of a relatively junior office in his place, smack of dishonesty and deception.
There are delightful anecdotes, like forgery of the Prime Minister’s signature recommending the appointment of the forger’s wife as a school teacher in a school by Bokaro Steel Plant.
Two crimes of passion, one by a highly decorated Lt. Colonel and the other about the murder of ace Badminton Star, Syed Modi in Lucknow, were engrossing.
Your fights with government officials on the prosecution of Sanjay Dutt only under the Arms Act and not under the draconian TADA and your refusal to humour the Indian Army on the prosecution of 1590 people rounded by after Operation Blue Star, as terrorists, speak of your uprightness and courage as a senior officer.
Unless the CBI is given a legal framework and made truly autonomous, supervised by Jan Lokpal, the agency would remain a caged parrot. The CBI Director should be appointed through a rigorous and intrepid process. Let us demand more independence for this great investigative organisation.
Bold, intrepid, objective and balanced – I was awestruck by the limpid perspicacity of the Book.
It is clear you do not believe in sesquipedalian loquaciousness nor are given to rodomontade. Your ideas of investigation are unembellished with tortuous convolutions and expressed without ostentation.
Corruption exists because the society wants it. It benefits everyone. Even the Modi government elected on the plank of anti - corruption has failed to live up to its expectations. The office of the Lok Pal is as lame as any other anti – corruption body in the country.
The midnight coup at the CBI Office to replace the CBI Director investigating the Rafale deal and installation of a relatively junior office in his place, smack of dishonesty and deception.
There are delightful anecdotes, like forgery of the Prime Minister’s signature recommending the appointment of the forger’s wife as a school teacher in a school by Bokaro Steel Plant.
Two crimes of passion, one by a highly decorated Lt. Colonel and the other about the murder of ace Badminton Star, Syed Modi in Lucknow, were engrossing.
Your fights with government officials on the prosecution of Sanjay Dutt only under the Arms Act and not under the draconian TADA and your refusal to humour the Indian Army on the prosecution of 1590 people rounded by after Operation Blue Star, as terrorists, speak of your uprightness and courage as a senior officer.
Unless the CBI is given a legal framework and made truly autonomous, supervised by Jan Lokpal, the agency would remain a caged parrot. The CBI Director should be appointed through a rigorous and intrepid process. Let us demand more independence for this great investigative organisation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2021
As rightfully written in the foreword, this book is more than a personal memoir. Its a memoir of an Institution. An institution of great significance and reputation (well that might be debatable), CBI.
Written in very Robinhood style, the book does justice in imparting sense of faults in CBI to the readers. Well, objectivity of the writer may sometime seem questionable, but overall reading the book is a happy and pleasant journey. Those who are really interested in administration, governance and reforms, must read it.
This is an honest account of present sorry state of country's premier investigative agency, reasons behind the same. But, it doesn't end on sad note. There are some really good suggestions for reforms which readers would like
Written in very Robinhood style, the book does justice in imparting sense of faults in CBI to the readers. Well, objectivity of the writer may sometime seem questionable, but overall reading the book is a happy and pleasant journey. Those who are really interested in administration, governance and reforms, must read it.
This is an honest account of present sorry state of country's premier investigative agency, reasons behind the same. But, it doesn't end on sad note. There are some really good suggestions for reforms which readers would like
July 19, 2020
The Saga Continues!
Shri. Shantonu Sen, retired Joint Dorector of CBI takes us through various cases of corruption dealt by him during his 33 year tenure in CBI. It's painful to know that we, the citizens, are being ruined by the selfish politicians/bureaucrats/corporate bigwigs. The author describes the sad state of CBI, that is used as a pawn by the respective Central Govt. He's suggested the necessary reforms to be bought about if the investigative agency needs to achieve the mission for which it was formed.
A good read.
Shri. Shantonu Sen, retired Joint Dorector of CBI takes us through various cases of corruption dealt by him during his 33 year tenure in CBI. It's painful to know that we, the citizens, are being ruined by the selfish politicians/bureaucrats/corporate bigwigs. The author describes the sad state of CBI, that is used as a pawn by the respective Central Govt. He's suggested the necessary reforms to be bought about if the investigative agency needs to achieve the mission for which it was formed.
A good read.
September 18, 2021
Poorly written. A bit of name dropping, says nothing while rambling a lot. In short, no content.
Thankfully read it "free" on Kindle unlimited. I'd rue buying this book.
Thankfully read it "free" on Kindle unlimited. I'd rue buying this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews