Raghuvanshi had a rocky ride as ATS chief

Fifty-five-year-old K P Raghuvanshi could pass off as an executive from a multi-national company in his trademark gray jackets and crisp cotton trousers, reports Debasish Panigrahi.

Fifty-five-year-old K P Raghuvanshi could pass off as an executive from a multi-national company in his trademark gray jackets and crisp cotton trousers.

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His appointment to the newly formed Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2005 raised eyebrows. The work of the department, dealing with hardened criminals, did not go well with the profile of the gentleman cop.

Raghuvanshi’s first tough call as ATS chief came when a series of blasts derailed Mumbai’s trains in July 2006. The blasts killed more than 187 and injured 750.

The case was solved as the ATS managed to unravel the collaborated efforts of Pakistani terror groups and their Indian
operatives.

Doubt and suspicion about the veracity of the ATS claims began surfacing, as evidence collected was found insufficient.

When the crime branch unveiled the Indian Mujahideen (IM) network two years later and said the group was involved in the train blasts, the ATS started a cover-up exercise. Raghuvanshi overcame the crisis. He was promoted to the rank of additional director general (railways) and Hemant Karkare replaced him.

The officer returned to the ATS after Karkare was killed in the November 26, 2008 attacks. The post of ATS chief was upgraded and Raghuvanshi returned to his old chair. All went well until February 13 this year when a blast ripped through Pune’s German Bakery. For more than a month, the ATS could not make headway in the case.

When the agency nabbed two suspected terror operatives last week, Raghuvanshi, decided to showcase the success. He revealed more than he should have, leaving the Centre fuming and state embarrassed.