Satyendra Dubey: The Eminent Whistleblower

In Indian mythology, The Ramayana, one of the most regarded ancient Hindu epics, has a significant place. It describes the journey taken by Lord Rama to save his wife, Sita, from the demonic ruler Ravana. One cannot ignore the significance of Ram Setu, also known as Adam's Bridge. This bridge holds immense cultural and historical importance as it is believed to be the pathway constructed by Lord Rama and his army to reach the island of Lanka.

Ram Setu is regarded as one of India's earliest important roadways. 

It is essential to recognize the critical role that Indian roads play in the country's development and connectivity. Over the years, India has witnessed significant progress in road infrastructure. The construction of expressways, national highways, and rural roads has improved connectivity between cities, towns, and remote areas. These road networks have not only enhanced transportation but also facilitated economic growth, trade, and cultural exchange.

Since we started off with speaking about the Ramayana, the character of Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, must be well known to anyone who has heard the Ramayana. Vibhishana was a key character in the epic since he left Ravana's side and allied himself with Lord Rama. He fought against his own brother, and also revealed to Lord Rama, Ravana's secret whereabouts. One of the earliest and most well-known instances of whistleblowing in history can be attributed to Vibhishana's action of exposing the wrongdoings and standing up for the truth. In contemporary times, whistleblowing cases like that of Satyendra Dubey continue to shed light on the importance of transparency and accountability. 

In this article you will get to know in detail about Satyendra Dubey, who received whistleblower of the year award from the London-based Index on Censorship for his courageous act of exposing corruption within the system and a baffling tale of his murder.

You might think how all this is relatable, Ramayana - Ram Setu - Vibhishana - Satyendra Dubey, but worry not, you will be able to connect all the dots as you read further.

What is Whistleblowing?

Imagine you're a secret agent on a mission to uncover hidden truths and expose wrongdoings. Well, whistleblowing is kind of like being that brave spy, but in real life! It's when a courageous individual reveals confidential information about misconduct or illegal activities happening within an organisation. They blow the whistle, not just with an ordinary whistle, but with their words, evidence, and unwavering commitment to doing what's right. 

Types of Whistleblowing

Let us look at the various types of whistleblowing:

• Internal whistleblowing: Bringing attention to wrongdoing at work and exposing dishonesty, misconduct, and rule-breaking within the organisation to higher-ups.
• External whistleblowing: Courageous souls venturing outside of company walls, reporting wrongdoing to the media, watchdog organisations, or law enforcement.
• Alumni Whistleblowing: Former insiders turning into truth-telling heroes, exposing their ex-employer's secrets from the outside.
• Open Whistleblowing: Unveiling the identity cloak, courageous whistleblowers step forward, owning their revelations.
• Personal whistleblowing: The hardship of one person reveals the wrongdoings of an organisation that have a direct impact on their own lives.
• Impersonal whistleblowing: This is the act of disclosing wrongdoing and cruelty with the intent to cause harm to others.
• Government whistleblowing: Boldly exposing officials' wrongdoing and shedding light on state secrets.

About Mr Satyendra Kumar Dubey

“My conscience is my biggest virtue, my wealthiest treasure and my best guide or friend. I always do what my conscience tells or compels me to do. I want to keep this candle of humanity ever glowing in my heart”

- Satyendra Kumar Dubey

Now that we know what whistleblowing is, let us know more about the brave soul Mr Satyendra Dubey.

In a small village nestled in the heart of Bihar, a remarkable individual named Satyendra Dubey began his extraordinary journey. He was born in 1973 and came from a place where hardships were as normal as the rising sun. This did not stop him, though. Instead, it strengthened his resolve to overcome all challenges and excel.

Young Satyendra's brightness flashed out as he matured. With constant concentration and dedication, he appeared for the state board exams in both 10th and 12th grade and effortlessly claimed the top spot. But his thirst for knowledge knew no bounds. He succeeded in one of the most competitive engineering exams in the entire country and got into IIT Kanpur. It was evident that this young man possessed a cleverness beyond measure.

Satyendra's ambitions came true in 1994 when he graduated from IIT Kanpur's esteemed Department of Civil Engineering. Just two years later, in 1996, he pursued a Master's degree in civil engineering from IIT Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, due to his unquenchable quest for knowledge. His academic success was the evidence of his everlasting commitment and unbreakable spirit.

When it was time for Satyendra to decide his course of action, he made a choice that many others would not have taken. Instead of giving in to the lure of rewarding corporate careers, he joined Indian Engineering Services.

As his brother fondly recalled, "My brother was one of the most idealistic people I have met in my life. He believed in his country and wanted to contribute towards the building of a strong nation."

Satyendra began a new chapter in his life when he joined the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on deputation in the month of July in the year 2002, but who knew that his time spent there would end in tragedy?

At Koderma, Jharkhand, Satyendra was chosen to serve as the project director. Here he was working on a stunning 60-kilometer stretch of NH 2 between Aurangabad and Barachatti. This specific road was of great importance because it was an essential piece of the Golden Quadrilateral. The goal of this massive infrastructural undertaking was to link the country's four corners.

Before we delve deeper into Satyendra's inspiring story, let us pause for a moment and take a glance at the magnificent Golden Quadrilateral, a web of roads that forever changed the face of transportation in India.

Project Golden Quadrilateral - All Roads Lead to Corruption!

For a vast country like India to preserve national unity and prosperity, an effective road network is crucial. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for maintaining India's extensive network of roadways.

One such revolutionary infrastructure project is the Golden Quadrilateral that aims to link the major metropolitan cities of India through a network of world-class highways. It anticipated faster economic growth across the nation, seamless communication, and reduced travel times. The main goal of the project was to connect Delhi in the North, Kolkata in the East, Chennai in the South, and Mumbai in the West to form a quadrilateral shape, hence the name. The project was planned in 1999, construction started in 2001, and it was finished in 2012.

The project was initiated under the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he introduced several infrastructural reforms during his tenure.

The Golden Quadrilateral, which stretches a remarkable 5,846 kilometers, has become the lifeblood of India's transit network. It passes through the following 13 states:

• New Delhi
• Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer (Rajasthan)
• Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
• Mathura, Varanasi, Agra, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
• Mumbai, Pune (Maharashtra)
• Bangalore (Karnataka)
• Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
• Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Haryana
• Bhubaneswar (Orissa)
• Kolkata (West Bengal)

The National Highways Development Project (NHDP) included the Golden Quadrilateral project. The project's anticipated cost was ₹600 billion, which brings us to the twist. With that much money, you could buy samosas for the rest of your life and still have money left over for a lavish Bollywood dance party. But these building magicians worked their magic with hard helmets instead of fancy hats, and just like that, the Golden Quadrilateral project was finished for an astonishing cost of just ₹308.58 billion! Yes, you heard correctly—almost half the amount that was estimated!

In India, finishing a project on time and within budget is an accomplishment that can only be compared to the suspense of a thrilling cricket match in which the underdog team wins against all odds.

This excellent road network began to operate in January 2012. And believe me when I say that this wasn't just any average highway; it was a lifeline, a thread tying together the varied fabric of India, linking busy metropolises, peaceful villages, and everything in between.

The road passes through scenery that ranges from snow-capped mountains to lush green meadows and vibrant coastal views. 

India has a high incidence of corruption, particularly in large-scale initiatives that need significant financial investment. In the 2000 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), India ranked 69th with a score of 2.8, based on 11 surveys. It is depressing to observe how corruption enters every aspect of Indian undertakings, casting a shadow over progress and opportunities.

Getting back to the story

Let's delve back into Satyendra’s extraordinary life story. Once he started in his position, he was unable to ignore the system's obvious shortcomings. Being a man of unflinching integrity, he made the courageous choice to order the contractor to suspend three of his own engineers because of their incapacity. But his efforts to achieve the highest standards didn't end there. He made the bold choice to have a recently built 6 kilometre road fully rebuilt after realising that its quality was much below the intended standards.

This bold move of revamping the road sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, angering the contractors and even rousing the ire of certain influential mafias. The contractors were dealt a harsh blow in the form of additional expenses and losses, while the corrupt politicians and government officials, who had long taken pleasure in their shady transactions, received a thunderous slap in the face (metaphorically, of course)!

However, his uncompromising stance against corruption would soon have shocking repercussions. He was immediately shifted from the prestigious Koderma project to Gaya, Bihar, without warning. Recognising that his potential greatly exceeded the confined limitations imposed by his new duty, he strongly opposed this relocation.

Yet, even in his new post, he refused to be silenced. Being witness to numerous grave financial discrepancies and observing the sorry state of poorly constructed roads, he gathered the courage to blow the whistle. 

He bravely revealed the widespread corruption afflicting the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in a letter to the esteemed Atal Bihari Vajpayee, submitting a copy to the NHAI chairman as well. He made an effort to stay anonymous in the letter since he was well aware of the serious repercussions that his identity disclosure could have.

Unfortunately, destiny had other ideas. The letter ended up in the wrong hands, and the closely kept secret seeped through the gaps. Unaware of the serious risk it posed to his safety, copies of the letter were distributed among officials and the notorious contract mafias. His identity's exposure grew to feel like an impending threat, rising violently over him. The story had now taken a compelling turn.

Tragedy happened on the fateful evening of November 27, 2003. After attending a wedding in Varanasi, Satyendra set off for his trip back to Gaya. He arrived at the Gaya Railway Station in the early hours of the morning, exhausted from the day's activities. He had been looking forward to getting picked up by his driver, but was let down when the car's dead battery prevented it from moving. Undeterred, he took a decision to proceed on his own, opting to hail a rickshaw instead.

After a while when Satyendra had still not arrived home, his driver began to feel increasingly concerned. He headed for the station with fret, looking for any sign of his boss. The gloomy streets of AP Colony bore witness to the heart-wrenching discovery that awaited him there.

Timeline of events that took place

1. November 27th, 2003: In a shocking incident, Satyendra was found dead under unexpected circumstances. He was fatally shot on his way back home, and the murder was staged to look like a robbery. It was eventually discovered that four people had pulled up to his rickshaw in the middle of the night, at 3:30 in the morning, and demanded his briefcase. When Satyendra refused, one of the attackers, Mantu Kumar, shot him with a handmade gun, ending his life tragically. Pinku (or Pintu) Ravidas, Uday Kumar and Shrawan Kumar were the other participants. 
Rapidly spreading news of the occurrence resulted in the transfer of the case from the Bihar Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

2. On December 14, 2003, the CBI took up the investigation and a charge sheet was submitted on September 3, 2004.
A handcrafted gun and Satyendra's briefcase, which had his identity card and important papers, were found in an abandoned well during the inquiry.

3. June 6, 2004: The CBI subsequently detained all of the suspects—Uday Kumar, Mantu Kumar, Pinku Ravidas at Ketra Gaon, Gaya. 

4. September 3, 2004: The CBI found all four defendants guilty, based on the rickshaw driver Pradeep Kumar's testimony.

5. March 22, 2010: Six years after the murder, Mantu Kumar, Uday Kumar, and Pinku Ravidas were accused of the crime in a Patna court. They were given a life sentence on March 27. While some accounts claim that Shrawan Kumar later committed suicide, others claim that he fully disclosed the events and ultimately became an approver.

It was interesting to discover another occurrence that was comparable when investigating this one. Nandkishore Gadekar, a 28-year-old Mumbai engineer, committed suicide in his office on the same day that Satyendra Dubey's sentencing was announced. Due to his refusal to participate in a shady agreement involving unlawful construction, Nandkishore reportedly threatened to reveal corruption inside the NHAI and was subjected to harassment and the denial of advancement. Concerned for his life, he had informed his family about the threats he received, including demands for bribes and racial taunts due to his Scheduled Tribe background.

These occurrences brought to light the widespread corruption inside the administration and the terrifying dangers that those who dare to oppose it face.

Important things to pay attention 

The Satyendra Dubey incident's revelations pose a lot of unsettling issues. It has been discovered that Satyendra sent a second letter in which he expressly warned that his name had been revealed and that his life was in immediate danger. Surprisingly, though, nothing was done. 

One cannot help but question if our former prime minister, who failed to take the proper action, was also complicit in this crime of neglect.

This makes us wonder about the limitations of our system. Is it really true that speaking out against injustice can result in someone losing their life? 

• Why was Satyendra Dubey's name disclosed, despite his explicit request to keep it confidential due to the threat to his life?
• Why were the warnings and complaints made by Satyendra regarding corruption and illegal activities not taken seriously?
• Did the officials ignore Satyendra's pleas for protection due to their own involvement or vested interests?
• What disciplinary actions have been taken against the officials who neglected their duty and failed to protect Satyendra?

These questions highlight the need for accountability, transparency, and a strong system that safeguards individuals who come forward to expose corruption and wrongdoing.

Explosive accusations were made in Satyendra's letter implicating the likes of Centrodosity of Russia, China: Coal of China, and Pioneer Constructions Ltd. These organisations had been accused of obtaining contracts by bribery and then dishonestly transferring them to subcontractors so they could profit greatly without providing any useful services. He further emphasised the diversion of up to ₹40 crores, which were allegedly provided to contractors as mobilisation advances. Advances made to contractors who are unable to complete their commitments are not justified in any way. However, these dishonest actions are shockingly widespread in India's majority of public infrastructure projects. The detailed allegations made by Dubey deserve a thorough investigation. Why haven't they been sought after?

It is utterly astonishing that Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) has been a major contributor to infrastructure development in the Golden Quadrilateral. Equally shocking is the fact that many of the other major contributors, such as Larsen & Toubro, LG Engg. & Construction, and Nagarjuna Construction, have been entangled in fraud and wrongdoing at some point. It seems that no one is truly innocent in this web of deceit. Ji haan, Koi bhi dudh ka dhula nahi he!!

We can no longer afford to remain silent. Holding the wrongdoers accountable and completely restructuring the system are both necessary. Our collective future depends on it.

Unveiling the track record of major contractors

A closer examination finds a string of troubling recent occurrences.

In 2013, the World Bank barred L&T, for six months, for engaging in dishonest business practices in a Bank-financed healthcare project. This was only the start.

L&T was implicated in charges of financial irregularities in 2018, including tax evasion and money laundering. These concerns were rigorously pursued by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which exposed two projects' probable non-performing assets and a web of dishonesty.

However, the story was far from over. L&T's reputation was once more harmed in 2021 when it got involved in a case involving fraudulent billing. Following this, the GST authority threatened the corporation with a huge fine of ₹ 30 crore.

However, L&T wasn't the only offender. According to retired IAS officer M N Vijay Kumar, another contractor, Nagarjuna Constructions, has a spotty past. Rumours of their involvement in questionable transactions raised persistent questions.

No exception was made by the GVK Group, a significant infrastructure firm. In 2020, the CBI charged the group's promoters and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) with a broad list of offences, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and fraud, all of which were believed to have cost the state exchequer money. Soon after, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) entered the fray and started an inquiry into money laundering.

These disclosures reveal a dark underside to the world of large corporations. They frequently avoid being seen because of their power, which protects them from scrutiny while others shoulder the responsibility.

The Bottom Line

So just like Lord Rama in Ramayana, our government needs to inculcate the Maryada Purushottam and give some respite to the Vibhishans. Sure, Vibhishan is popular for being a defector, but it’s the underlying cause that matters.

I hope now you could connect the dots of all the references to Ramayana, Rama Setu, and Vibhishan (no, it was not the Adipurush hype)!

The Ramayana and the construction of Ram Setu highlight the significance of roadways and connectivity in ancient India. The development of Indian roads and the NHAI's efforts have played a vital role in improving connectivity and fostering economic growth. 

After this case, the government came up with the Whistleblower Protection Act. It’s a shame that a valiant should like Satyendra’s had to be lost for such a basic law to be implemented.

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