'My son's been framed by those who envy him'

Says mother of Saji Mohan, the IPS officer arrested in Mumbai for possession of heroin

Says mother of Saji Mohan, the IPS officer arrested in Mumbai for possession of heroin

"My son has been framed in a false case by those who envy him," said a tearful Podiamma Varghese (68), mother of IPS officer Saji Mohan, who was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad on Saturday, with a huge cache of heroin.

Speaking exclusively to MiD DAY from her home in Edathara, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, Varghese recalled speaking to her son last on Saturday. "Saji called me from Delhi to inform that he would be flying to Mumbai, and then take a connecting flight for Kochi. After that, we have not heard from him," she said.

According to Varghese, Saji was to take charge as Deputy Director of Enforcement Directorate, Kochi after au00a0 training programme in Delhi.

Meanwhile, local villagers and senior police officers said they were surprised to learn of Saji's arrest. They said the family kept a low profile, and rarely mingled with neighbours. A family friend revealed that Saji was instrumental in exposing the alleged nexus between the Chandigarh police and drug peddlers during his tenure as zonal director, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh.

The NCB revelations following the disclosure by drug peddler Harpal Singh alias Raju had led to the suspension of five policemen including sub inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon.

Who is Saji Mohan?

Saji was a veterinary doctor before he cleared the Civil Services examination in 1995. He had topped the veterinary exams held in 1992-93 at the Jawaharlal University, Jabalpur, and began working as a vet at the Government Goat Farm, Attapadi, Palghat district, Kerala.

After clearing the Civil Services Examination (1995), Saji was initially posted as assistant superintendent of police in Jammu and Kashmir. After securing a promotion, he was transferred to Chandigarh, Punjab as Zonal Director Narcotic Control Bureau.

In 1996, Saji married Deepa (35), daughter of a reputed transporter from Palghat. However, it was after the demise of his father-in-law in December 2008, and the deteriorating health of his father Subhedar Major (retired) Varghese Johanon (70), that Saji was keen on a transfer to Kerala.

In the dock: Class of '95

January 25, 2009: Saji Mohan (41), a 1995 batch IPS officer, was arrested u00a0by the ATS in Mumbai, u00a0and recovered 35 kg of heroin
April 2008: Batchmate Srikantappa B was caught red-handed by Lok Ayukta sleuths, while accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a quarry owner. Srikantappa was SP in Chamarajnagar, Karnataka
April 30, 2007: J G Murali, a 1995 batch IPS officer, superintendent of Visakhapatnam rural district, was found guilty and sentenced to jail on charges of amassing u00a0wealth by abusing his position, and acquiring assets worth Rs 64 lakh
April 2007: M N Dinesh, an IPS officer of 1995 batch (Rajasthan cadre), was arrested along with Gujarat IPS officers D G Vanzara and Rajkumar Pandian for the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in November 2005

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