New Delhi: Where are memoirs of the first
Chief of the country`s snooping agency Research and Analysis
Wing (RAW)-- R N Kao?
The curious case came before the Central Information
Commission today which directed the agency to disclose if
these memoirs running into several volumes, as claimed by an
ex-RAW official, are in its possession or not.
Nisha Priya Bhatia of RAW had alleged that the first
Chief of RAW R N Kao had left behind his memoirs with
instructions that they should be published after certain
number of years.
"These memoirs running into several volumes were
handed over by one Chief of the RAW to another," she said.
Bhatia alleged that some senior RAW officials have now
established personal control over these valuable memoirs
because of royalty, name and fame which could be earned
through their publication.
In her RTI application, she sought to know from the
RAW the steps taken by it to establish "organisational
control" over these writings as these are property of the
agency and heritage of this country.
RAW said it is an organisation exempt from the
transparency law and except allegations of corruption and
human rights violation, no other information can be furnished.
Bhatia claimed that "personal control" of these
memoirs by some officials of RAW is an act of corruption.
Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi directed the
RAW to explain whether the allegations of Bhatia, that Kao
gave memoirs to be published after a certain period and that
they are not with the agency but in personal possession of
some individuals, are correct or not.
Gandhi said if the allegations are false, then the
agency can state it, else it becomes a case of criminal
misconduct under section 13(d) of the Prevention of Corruption
of Act and entire information should be provided to Bhatia.
PTI
