If you were outraged that the government did not honour Satyendra Kumar Dubey’s request for secrecy when he blew the whistle, take this. Dubey knew that it had been leaked. Because he had started getting threat calls much before he was killed on November 27. In fact, so rattled was he that he wrote a second letter, this time not to the Prime Minister’s Office but to the NHAI chairman saying that his letter to the PMO had been leaked and he was exposed to ‘‘undesirable pressure and threat.’’ Even this letter was ignored. Although not once did Dubey complain to the police or give an inkling to his family that his life was in danger, in his second letter, he makes it clear he’s being targeted. Dubey, an IIT Kanpur graduate, was killed on November 27 and The Sunday Express on November 30 reported that he had highlighted corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral in a confidential letter to the PMO which didn’t honour his request for confidentiality. The second letter to the NHAI chairman is marked ‘‘Confidential’’ but undated. However, it was sent this year as it refers to communication dated February 2003. Instead of following up on his complaint, the Central Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the NHAI ‘‘reprimanded’’ Dubey for writing directly to the PM, confirm top sources. The CVO reportedly wrote to Dubey that he was not supposed to write directly to the Prime Minister regarding corruption.he Gaya police are in possession of these documents and are looking for more. The officer who reprimanded Dubey has gone to his parent cadre, UP. In fact, in the letter to the NHAI chairman, Dubey, too, refers to a letter from the vigilance division of the authority. When contacted, N C Dhoundiyal, DIG, Magadh Range, who is heading the investigation, said the police have seized a number of letters and documents but he could not disclose anything at this stage as this might hamper the investigation. The text of Dubey’s second letter to the chairman, NHAI, follows: Sub: My representation about certain lapses in the implementation of National Highways Development Project. Hon’ble Sir, I would like to draw your kind attention towards a representation on the above subject sent you by the undersigned. (The same representation was also sent to the Hon’ble PM). The representaion sent to you was unsigned. Howver, the same was confirmed vide my letter dated 15.2.2003 after a letter to this effect was received from Vigilance Division of National Highways Authority of India. The sole intention behind my representation was to extend posiitive contribution to the NHAI, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Nation as well, by highlighting grey areas purely with the purpose to institute remedial measures and thereby achieve optimum and desired output. I had no intentions whatsoever to malign any individual or for that matter any organization. In doing so I have made a sincere endeavour to carry out my duties as expected of every upright government officer. I had enclosed my identity on a separate sheet so as to ensure secrecy and at the same time make any further contribution if asked upon to do so. It is however regretted to inform you that, due care has not been taken to mantain the secrecy of my identity and even the separate sheet containing my identity has been forwarded to the concerned authorities. As a result, my identity has been leaked. Sir, you would appreciate that this disclosure has exposed me to undesirable pressures and threats. As a result, the undersigned, who took all this pain in order to make some positive contribution to the organization and the concerned project, has to adopt a defensive posture. I hereby express my serious concern over this. This is submitted for your kind information please. Thanking you, Yours Sincerely, S K Dubey Manager (Technical) NHAI Koderma
