Daya Shankar Dies of Blood Cancer in Melbourne

Daya Shankar (60) died on Sunday 12 August 2012 in Melbourne. The man from Bihar was a legend in Mumbai, Goa and Daman Customs. In the 1990s, he was a terror to gold smugglers like Dawood Ibrahim who feared him and, at the same time, respected his skills, dedication and values. He operated in deep sea to trap wholesale gold consignments with skill and courage.

He was not afraid of big names. In his career, he toppled many biggies including the Goa Chief Minister who was detained under COFEPOSA. As a true professional, he did not accept the official reward scheme (fired by UP Sing as Finance Minister) for detecting smuggling. For him, finding the smuggler was a part of work. He was no mercenary who demanded his share of the booty after the battle was won.

It is said that following pressures from within the Department and also from politicians and smugglers, New Delhi shunted him off to Surat Excise as Additional Collector at the peak of his anti-smuggling career. In frustration, he went off on study leave to Australia where he did his PhD in IPRs and eventually resigned from service. Like Arvind Kejriwal, he was “rewarded” by the Department with enforcement of bond condition to surrender salary during study leave period. He had to shell out Rs. 10 lakhs to North Block to win freedom from the bond shackles.

Daya is survived by his wife and a son who is doing medicine.

Daya is a hero today in the eyes of the departmental officers. He stood for honesty, skill and courage. The death of Daya Shankar is in the tradition of J Datta, former Member (Customs) and Chairman of CBEC who too was a legend in Mumbai Customs. Both J Datta and Daya were honest and sincere, which qualities gave them courage and skill.

There are many Daya Shankars and J Dattas in the vast ocean of the customs and excise formations. The system, however, systematically, kills them. But before their death, they do a lot for the department and country. They may not get much from the department but the public salutes them in worship and adulation.