In the sensational fodder scam case, which proved the fundamental strength of India’s apex body of probing – Central Bureau of Investigation, the role of an IPS officer of Andhra cadre must be recalled and commended. The upright officer that elevated the prideof Andhra Pradesh, is V S K Kaumudi, 1986 batch IPS officer, the present Additional DGP (Law and Order).

In 1996, Kaumudi was on deputation as Superintendent of the CBI, Delhi, for three years. It was during that stint, he was deputed as investigating officer to Bihar's Animal Husbandary Department's Scam Unit to probe the alleged fodder scandal involving the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Thursday-judgement, convicting Lalu and others, is historical in many aspects. Lalu and also Jagannatha Mistra are among a few of the leaders in India,who were convicted after assumed such pivotal office of Chief Ministership. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief and five-time Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (short stint) and former Former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram were the other big leaders convicted.

However, CBI has been maligned in the recent years. One could not steer out the political overtones in its investigations. The Supreme Court of India, the apex court questioned CBI’s credibility and called it ‘caged parrot’. So, it is high time, CBI court’s judgement was highlighted. The sentencing in Fodder scam in which Lalu and Mishra, besides 44 others, by CBI court, Ranchi, rekindled the hope on CBI.

At this juncture, Kaumudi must be one of important officers to be complimented for the high quality of investigation which helped to collect and place unassailable evidence. Kaumudi like his boss Upendranath Biswas, the then the regional CBI director, who led the investigating team in fodder scam, was harassed by political establishment for their sincerity.

When the officials and legislators were preventing CBI officials to access the relevant documents, CBI sought judicial intervention. he politician-official-business mafia nexus of Bihar prompted a privilege motion in Bihar Legislative Council by its puppet legislators against CBI officials. It led to contempt of court proceedings and in the game, Kaumudi was one of the CBI officials who were named for prosecution too.

The major factor that strengthened the argumentation of prosecution in fodder scam was the strong evidence. Kaumudi played an exemplary role in complementing the case by strong documentary evidence. If the evidence had been oral, it could have been easily controverted by the defence and the case would not have come to this logical end of convictions. After 3-year stint, Kaumudi was sent back to Andhra Pradesh. Satyam scam was another important assignment by Kaumudi, when he was in CID.

-Naresh@Sakshipost