Patriotism, according to Dr Johnson's dictum, is the
last refuge of the scoundrel. Had he met a certain
Romesh Sharma, Dr Johnson could have added a rider:
politicians are the first refuge of a scoundrel.
Or even better: scoundrels are the first refuge of
politicians! That is the horrifying truth emerging from
Romesh Sharma's statements under interrogation.
Sharma is a man who has long had a questionable
reputation. Even if his name was never familiar to the
public at large, he seems to have had a finger in every
pie cooked by the underworld's chefs. Land-grabs,
extortion, rape, murder, even abetting terrorism -- you
name it and Romesh Sharma appears to have been involved
in it.
Why was he never arrested, even after the authorities
intercepted calls to men accused in the infamous Bombay
blasts case? Simple, Romesh Sharma had taken immense
care to cultivate several senior politicians. His
powerful friends shielded him. There was no altruism
involved; Sharma was useful and they couldn't find a
better replacement.
It takes very senior politicians indeed to draw a
protective hand over someone who may have been involved
in the Bombay blasts. And Sharma's friends do indeed
include some of the most famous names in India.
The Delhi police have hard evidence in its possession
today linking these men to Romesh Sharma. There are
videotapes of as many as three former prime ministers
enjoying his hospitality. No, names can't be mentioned
right now, nor even party affiliations. But when I speak
of former prime ministers the description obviously
cannot apply to anyone in the BJP.
But the Delhi police didn't really need videotapes to
know of Romesh Sharma's connections. Access to Race
Course Road, official residence of India's prime
ministers, is strictly regulated. But Romesh Sharma's
car used to be waved through with no questions -- an
honour shared with the notorious 'godman' Chandra Swami
(also behind bars today).
Sharma even convinced his friends that he needed
protection. He was given what is called 'Y-class
security'. This is normally conceded by the Union home
ministry after considering various criteria --
procedures that were totally ignored in this case.
But it wasn't just prime ministers who used the unique
services Sharma offered. News reports mentioned a
"former defence minister" who is linked to Sharma.
However, I have learned that it isn't one former defence
minister, but two.
As with the three prime ministers, the names cannot be
revealed right now. Let us just say that both are very
ambitious men who are still very far from a graceful
retirement from politics. And, oh yes, neither man
belongs to the BJP.
There is no space here for the full list of Sharma's
friends. There is a former finance minister -- he has
held other senior posts too -- for whom Romesh Sharma
allegedly ran an export firm. There are civil servants,
policemen, industrialists, even a few journalists.
Let me just say that this has the potential to become
the greatest scandal ever in Indian politics, bigger by
far than the convoluted Jain hawala case. But is it
enough to say that everything is all right because
Romesh Sharma is now in custody?
Not really, the Indian people need to be told how Sharma
acquired such power. We need to be told precisely which
politicians used his money-laundering services -- told
openly, not in dribs and dabs.
It is instructive to trace Romesh Sharma's career over
the past 20 years. When he came to Delhi, the only
vocation available to him was that of a street-side
fruit-juice vendor. Today, there is property worth at
least Rs 5 billion with him. But it isn't enough to know
that he became a contact man in Delhi for the Mumbai
Mafia.
The late Haji Mastan, openly acclaimed as a smuggler and
more, said it best. "Do you think the police doesn't
know about us?" he demanded rhetorically. "If they
really wanted, Bombay could be cleaned up in a single
week!" But policemen cannot trespass beyond limits set
by their political masters.
Not surprisingly, Romesh Sharma cultivated politicians,
especially those of the Congress variety. In fact, he
was once the head of the Kisan cell of the All-India
Congress Committee. Given that India was ruled mostly by
Congress or Congress-backed governments, should we be
surprised at his immunity from the law?
Sharma may be guilty of dozens of crimes. But the men
who protected him over the years are no less to blame.
They must be called to account.