As we mark the 33rd anniversary of the horrific Mumbai serial bomb blasts of March 12, 1993, I reflect on a battle that extends far beyond that fateful day. The tragic events killed 257 and injured over 700 innocent citizens. While my gallantry acts during these blasts further saved hundreds of lives and protected property worth crores, my rightful recognition has been lost in impregnable red tape of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) bureaucrats.
During those attacks, I was serving as the head of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) at Mumbai Airport under the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA). Despite my official duty being restricted to airport, I chose to respond to emergency call from Mumbai Police in the public, city and nation’s greater interest.
While carrying out my duties, I was injured in the fifth blast at Worli. Just an hour later, I risked my life to pick up a live high-explosive hand grenade thrown by terrorists at Mahim Causeway, carried it to the seashore and safely detonated it—preventing further casualties, clearing a major traffic jam, and allowing thousands to reach safety.
Two days later, on March 14, I was again summoned by Mumbai Police to neutralise a scooter bomb found in the densely populated Dadar (E) area. Despite the extreme risk, I spent four hours defusing the bomb, which contained 12kg of live RDX, a live timer, and 500 steel splinters. Transporting such a highly sensitive explosive was another challenge, but I ensured its safe destruction outside city limits. This operation not only prevented mass destruction but intact recovered scooter provided crucial leads to the police, leading to arrests of bomb blast perpetrators and eventual convictions.
On recommendation initiated by me and seconded by BCAS-MCA, three of my subordinate staff were honoured with gallantry awards, including a Sena Medal for gallantry by honourable President for their supporting role in my gallantry acts.
My own department (BCAS-MCA) officially recommended me for the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) for leading the operations and performing the same gallantry acts, but bureaucrats in MHA rejected it without citing any valid reason or reference to government policy. Worse, BCAS-MCA, instead of standing by their own recommendation, abruptly closed my case and refused to challenge MHA bureaucrats’illogical decision.
In the last 32 years, I have filed 528 grievances through central government’s online public grievance platform CPGRAMS appealing to the president, prime minister, home minister, civil aviation minister, public grievances minister and the director general of BCAS. Yet, all of them have been routed back to the same MHA bureaucrats who dismissed my case with insult, stating that I have "no right" to claim the award, blatantly violating my right to equal treatment under Article 14.
After my persistent grievances, MHA suddenly introduced a new condition, claiming that my recommendation should have come from Maharashtra government. However, despite repeated requests, they have failed to produce any official notification stating this rule. In fact, the state government has thrice clarified that they have no jurisdiction to either recommend or award PPMG to a central government civil employee as is my case. Even President’s Secretariat has twice upheld this legal position. Yet, MHA bureaucrats continue to ignore these facts and seem to be living in a colonial-era hangover.
Adding to my anguish, Maharashtra government has also never acknowledged my voluntary actions in assisting Mumbai Police, despite myself going beyond my duty and jurisdiction at great personal risk. Basic civic decency and gratitude demanded that the state government should have actively followed up on my PPMG recommendation, but they remained silent.
Ironically, Shri Ujjwal Nikam was awarded Padma Shri for his role in securing convictions in the TADA court related to these blasts. If securing convictions is recognised, then why is risking one’s life to prevent mass casualties not?
Even after 32 years and 528 representations, I still hold hope that one day Government of India and bureaucrats in MHA will rectify this injustice and grant me the honour I rightfully deserve.
Major Vasant Jadhav is a former Indian Army personnel retired from the ranks of a Major and also served as the head of Mumbai Airport’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.
