‘Saji asked for stationery to pen thoughts’

(Deputy director of Enforcement Directorate Saji Mohan was arrested in a drug case)

Mateen Hafeez I TNN
Mumbai: IPS officer Saji Mohan, who is in police custody for allegedly dealing in drugs, resembles the lead character in Robin S Sharma’s book, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, except that the protagonist in the book is a workaholic who lost the good years of his life in the rat race for material success.

The police deemed it appropriate to present this book to Saji when he requested for some reading material. The book is food for thought for those who are hungry for oriental wisdom.

Saji requested the police to provide him with books and papers to pen down his thoughts. “He puts up a brave face. We don’t know if it’s for real, though,’’ an officer said.

Meanwhile, the ATS, which is investigating the case, is yet to tie up the loose ends. “We are ascertaining how the drugs were supplied to him. We were told by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) that Saji was suspected to have kept a part of seized drugs while he was posted as zonal director NCB Chandigarh. However, he mixed limestone with the seized material to balance out the total amount. However, we have not bought this theory completely,’’ a senior police officer said.

Additional commissioner of police Param Bir Singh said, “We are probing his links with the drug mafia in the city and if Saji was part of a drug syndicate.’’ It is learnt that Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Kochi sealed his cabin and have drawn up a panchnama of the seized material. Saji had taken charge as deputy director of ED on January 9.

NCB superintendent Balwinder Singh, who is being questioned by the ATS, is likely to be arrested in Chandigarh under the NDPS Act. NCB is also investigating theft of drugs from its office. The economic offences wing (EOW) of the Chandigarh police will seek the custody of Saji on February 7. EOW is investigating misappropriation of NCB’s funds by Saji.

Saji was arrested for possessing 12 kg of heroin on January 24. His associates—Haryana constable Rajesh Kumar and Mumbai-based agent Vicky Oberoi—were in police custody when Saji was caught.

The Times of India, February 5, 2009