Interestingly, however, not much shock and surprise was reflected in conversations in the state secretariat corridors of power. But speculation about the possible fate of both the arrested accused was rife.
The rumour mills in Gandhinagar were understandably working overtime on Thursday. Lunch and tea breaks were extended to air views and opinions on the previous day's developments - the arrests of two Gujarat cadre bureaucrats - IAS O Ravi in a graft case from Delhi and IPS Abhay Chudasama in a criminal conspiracy of Sohrabuddin's fake encounter case.
Interestingly, however, not much shock and surprise was reflected in conversations in the state secretariat corridors of power. But speculation about the possible fate of both the arrested accused was rife.
"It was inevitable. If they had done something out of line, it was going to catch up with them. No one should live under the illusion that any politician, whether in power or not, is above the law," said one veteran in Sachivalay.
Another quipped, "The chief minister himself is not above the law; he too was called for interrogation."
When specifically asked if fear was one of the emotions in the
air right now, the answer was in the negative.
"If one has done something wrong, there is indeed reason to worry. But we do not feel that bureaucrats are being specifically targeted. We are part of a system - we have to follow the state government's diktat. The Indian constitution, however, does not permit us to commit crimes under this pretext," a babu said.
As this comment was being made, news of raids at DCP Chudasama's posh house in Prahladnagar area trickled in on Thursday afternoon, and this babu sighed. "It is an unfortunate fallacy that babus fall into — that their political boss will override the law and defend him / her. Not many are lucky, he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}