The book refers to an official who was “instrumental in purchasing the desktop encryptor” that was used by senior officers before VSAT was put in place. This had been procured from a foreign vendor at an “astronomical price”, without inviting tenders and using secret funds. Its “security grading was suspect”, the book says.

Singh writes that the opposition to the VSAT project could have been because “certain people” wanted the existing system to continue and that “the total lack of secrecy” must have been to the liking of foreign intelligence agencies. “Were there some moles among us?” he asks.

Canteen for RAW officials

Raw had used ex-servicemen employed in the agency as a “subterfuge” to get a canteen — that also stocked liquor - for its own personnel who were not entitled to such facilities.

The initial application for the CSD (Canteen and Stores Department) canteen was based on the premise that there were many ex-servicemen in the agency who found it inconvenient to go to the Station Canteen where they were exempted from paying sales tax on goods purchased.

“I found that instead of catering exclusively to ex-servicemen, the canteen was open to all employees.” Singh writes that he was apprehensive that once RAW got a canteen, other security agencies and paramilitary forces would make similar demands. But his fears were overruled. Singh wrote to the GOC Delhi Area, seeking prevention of misuse and audit of the canteen but nothing happened.

“With its penchant for getting around rules, I am sure RAW would have found a way to continue the canteen,” Singh writes.