During my marathon stint of four decades in a public sector bank, I discovered employees’ dread whenever deputed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) offices. Stories of the premier investigating agency belittling bank officials or sending a shiver down their spine did the rounds.
I got the chance to rub shoulders with the CBI late in my banking career. A semi-urban posting took me to Hosapete, which emerged as the hotspot for one of the country’s biggest mining scams. As a result, the CBI arrested several leading politicians and mining barons and made them cool their heels in jail.
The iron-ore affluent district had created many a rags-to-riches story. Ore mined after paying a minuscule royalty to the government made many of the steel companies Uber-rich overnight but stripped Ballari of its wildlife and safe drinking water. An unholy nexus existed between the mining lords and the government. My transfer to this mining town to complete a semi-urban assignment coincided with this challenging phase.
Various law enforcers undue pressure the banks to produce documents and records at brief notice. We maintained a close liaison with the investigating agencies via a forex official identified for the purpose. However, fishing out records, typing certificates and letters and printing kilos of account statements was an ordeal.
My predecessors had spoken of the uncertain treatment meted out by the investigating agencies. We frequently visited the CBI offices in Bengaluru and Chennai and the Customs office in Vasco to produce proofs of transactions. So I was hesitant when my maiden turn came to visit the CBI office.
An office colleague who had made several trips to the economic offences wing of the investigating agency gave me the creeps by remarking that facing the CBI was akin to taking a strike against a fearsome pace bowler. I had to cart seven kilos of documents but felt relieved when my other half, R Shobha and younger son J R Sunny, volunteered to accompany me.
We boarded the Shatabdi Express from Bengaluru and checked into the CBI office the following day, brandishing the documents. The sight of my family members in tow made the CBI officials cast quizzical glances at us. If only they knew we were first-time visitors, curious to glance inside the CBI office!
But thankfully, the inspector made us feel relaxed by offering snacks and beverages. The initial fear that enveloped me evaporated. An employee celebrating his birthday came around with goodies. We wished the ‘birthday boy’ well but were keen to complete the formalities. When my turn arrived, I trod in with trepidation. The CBI official quizzed me for an hour, but I came away unscathed. He also found the papers in order and gratefully acknowledged them. He even urged me to show my family around the city before departing. I heaved a sigh of relief when the exercise was done and dusted.
We took a brief tour of the city and returned just in time to catch the departing train to Bengaluru. Though short, my first visit to the CBI office showed that its officials are humane, contrary to what I heard. So I continued shuttling to the offices of the investigating agency and became a familiar face. But I must admit that I had goose bumps whenever quizzed by the CBI officials!
