“At worse Open Secrets can be treated as the first open confession of an intelligence operative,” says author Maloy Krishna Dhar, IPS (Retd.) and former Joint Deirector, Intelligence Bureau (IB). With “the first attempt to break the taboo of guarding the intelligence fraternity under the permanent veil,” M.K. Dhar has not only raised the issue of bringing accountability in IB but has also questioned the top brass of IB which has become a haven for IPS officers.

“We need high level of professionalism now. There are many areas, which cops cannot address. We need to bring in experts from different fields,” says Dhar during his book launch function where the chief guest was former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah. The controversial book, which has caused a furore in the political hierarchy of the country, throws light on the period when the Naxal movement was in take off stage. It contains author’s foray into the North East. The litany of bad governance of the state and neglect of its people has been candidly exposed. But the most interesting part is author’s tenure in Delhi.

The narrations of certain intimate stories about Indira Gandhi and her family members are not new, but these have thrown enlivening lights on the gritty character of Indira Gandhi. Very few officers have professed their liking and disliking for personalities like Indira Gandhi, Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi, R.K. Dhawan. These names evoke extreme reactions – some palatable and other repulsive. He also has given the ISRO espionage case in detail. He also talks about Babri demolition case, which he says, was planned in advance.

Chief guest Farooq Abdullah, who has just “read 318 page of the book out of 519”, said, “It is not easy to come out with secrets. I don’t know what is going on in his head. People only want chamchas (psychophants). The minute you try to change the line, they’ll disown you. Once you write a book you need to be honest and Dhar has done that.

“I wasn’t really impressed after I read two autobiographies. In one of them, written by a former Prime Minister who is no longer living, he knew much more than what he wrote. If you decide to come out with such a thing, better be honest. Similarly, Giani Zail Singh’s book is totally changed in print. Either the book’s content has changed or something happened." Well, the book is worth a read. Priced at Rs 795, the book has been published by Manas Publications (Tel: 23265523, 23260783).