2009: Indian Hall of Shame

Politicians, businessmen, judges enter the 2009 Indian Hall of Shame on various grounds.

The year saw a range of disgraceful activities by the people in power, raising serious questions on the people who are ruling the country, and how corruption still scourges the country.

1. The architect of Satyam scam, Ramalinga Raju
The Chairman of Satyam Computer's scandal B Ramalinga Raju scarred the image of Indian IT industry across the world when he admitted to inflating the company's accounts.

The mastermind behind the Rs 7,800 crore scam confessed and resigned on Jan 7,2009.

Forbes ranked Raju as the fourth among the 'world's 10 most outrageous CEOs' for the year. He was the only Indian to be featured on the well known business hall of shame rankings.

2. Former Andhra Pradesh Governor ND Tiwari
Amid the tensions over separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, a media sting operation exposed a sex scandal involving the 86-year-old Andhra governor ND Tiwari.

The video footage of the sting operation reportedly shows the octogenarian leader in a compromising position with three young women.

The governor, who was accused of exploiting women using power, resigned on Dec 26 citing poor health, just a day after the video surfaced.

3. Karnataka HC Chief Justice PD Dinakaran
Karnataka High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran broke all myths that only politicians indulge in land grabbing.

Allegations against the judge include amassing disproportionate assets and land grabbing in Tamil Nadu.

While a impeachment motion backed by over 70 Rajya Sabha members was moved in the parliament, the Dalit fraction opposed action against Dinakaran saying that he was being discriminated against as he was a Dalit.

Dinakaran has been notified against hearing any cases till further orders. And Supreme Court collegium's recommendation to promote PD Dinakaran to the apex court has also been turned down by the government, stating there was enough proof linking the Karnataka judge to questionable land deals.

4. Ruchika's 'molester' SPS Rathore
Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore came into the limelight in 2009 after a CBI court sentenced him to a meagre six months imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1000 in connection with the 1990 Ruchika molestation case.

This ruling invited heat from the public, politicians and activists. The light and late judgment was heavily criticised and Rathore walking out of the court with a smile plastered on his face became one of most detested visuals the country saw.

Rathore molested 14-year-old budding sports person Ruchika Girhotra in Aug 1990, leading to the victim committing suicide. He had been evading justice for 19 years allegedly by using his power and influence.

5. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda was slapped with charges of money laundering in tune of over Rs 4000 crore, which is almost a fifth of the annual budget of the state.

Koda case also dragged other politicians names into the scandal when a diary with names of various politicians with monetary transactions with them.

One of the prominent names was RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

In addition to all this, the way Koda tried to evade authorities and interrogations turned the case into a bigger controversy.

6. Masjid Demolition: Kalyan Singh, Advani, Vajpayee and Uma Bharati
The 1992 Babri Masjid demolition came up again to haunt the country in Nov 2009, when the Liberhan commission report leaked into the media, leading to the government tabling it in the parliament.

Names such as Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi came up in the inquiry commission report.

While giving the government's response to the report, Home Minister P Chidambaram said BJP, Shiv Sena and VHP in connivance with the then UP chief minister, Kalyan Singh demolished the masjid in Ayodhya.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and chief of Bhartiya Janshakti Party, Uma Bharti again reiterated moral responsibility of Babri Masjid demolition leading her into the list.

7. Foreign Terrorists Headley and Rana
While Babri Masjid demolition was a act of terror tearing apart the country from the inside, two Pakistan-born foreigners' names emerged in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai Terror attacks, which was a ghastly act of cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan-origin American David Coleman Headley and Pakistan-Origin Tahawwur Hussain Rana were arrested by FBI during raids conducted on inputs that they were plotting attack on Denmark.

When their connection in the Nov 2008 attacks in India were probed, distressing information was exposed including the facts that these terrorists had visited and stayed in the country.

While Headley has been charged with plotting the terror attacks, Rana continues to deny involvement.

8. UP Chief Minister Mayawati
Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati had a tumultuous year as the country protested the Dalit Queen's obsession with wasting public money on building statues of herself and that of other Dalit leaders in her state.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister came under the scanner with a slew of PILs and cases filed against her for wasting the people's money.

Mayawati government was heavily criticised and punished by the apex court.

9. Russian case: 'Rapist' politician and the MP who a put foot in his mouth
While John Fernandes, a 34-year-old Goan politician, was accused of allegedly raping a Russian woman, an MP made controversial and slanderous statements against the victim.

A Congress MP created a storm when he hinted that the victim asked for it. Speaking in the parliament, the Shantaram Naik said, "...an alleged rape of a lady who moves with strangers for days together even beyond middle of the night is to be treated on different footings."

10. Karnataka Reddy Brothers
The Reddy brothers including Karunakara and Janardhana Reddy not only led a coup in the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also faced allegations of illegal mining activities in Andhra Pradesh.

The brothers led a revolt against the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in a bid to dethrone him. This bedlam left the state reeling under political crisis when the government was supposed to be helping in flood relief activities.

Soon after this conflict died down on compromise, the Andhra Pradesh government ordered CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC), owned by Janardhana Reddy.

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