Akhilesh wary of CBI sandstorm against Chandrakala IAS

NOIDA, UTTAR PRADESH

India’s sand mafia is wounded, but not fatally. And fingers are being pointed at Bhukya Chandrakala, a 38-year-old bureaucrat, who was once described by her friends and colleagues as Miss Clean. Many called her Female Dabbang, the title borrowed from a Salman Khan blockbuster revolving around an honest cop. There are enough stories about Chandrakala floating in the corridors of government offices in Uttar Pradesh about the way she would scream in anger if someone tried to bribe her at office or home. And how she routinely took on influential politicians and cash-rich corporate captains keen to break rules, and sleazy cops seeking dubious cash. Chandrakala told everyone she never tolerates corruption.

And then she had a fall like the proverbial Humpty Dumpy. Now, many are saying her high talks were a mere smokescreen. Chandrakala worked like a Silent Buddha, who sees all but does not react, almost like the silent character from Leo Tolstoy’s epic story, God Sees The Truth But Waits. Chandrakala, claim officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), knew everything, rarely argued about something, and let happen many things. Chandrakala is being charged by the premier investigating agency for her alleged involvement in the billion-dollar illegal sand mining business. Last week, the CBI officers raided a number of places across Uttar Pradesh, including Chandrakala’s residence; whirring television cameras captured images of her estranged husband, A. Ramulu, trying to evade pesky reporters.

For the last couple of years, state governments of both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya