Chennai:
At his home in a narrow lane in Velacherry in south Chennai, a former intelligence officer is taking tuitions to ensure that his children have food and a roof over their heads.
S Natarajan was sacked from the Research and Analysis Wing or RAW in 2009, after 25 years of service, on what he says are fake charges. The agency has refused to take him back even after the Central Administrative Tribunal struck down his termination in February, and ordered his reinstatement within four weeks.
"RAW's action was illegal, irrational and unlawful," said the tribunal.
The 48-year-old says he was victimized after he defied a Deputy Commissioner who asked him to pass on personal messages to his family using the official satellite system, 16 years ago.
But the real harassment allegedly began eight years later when he was posted under the same officer, at Patiala in Punjab. He says he was asked to gather intelligence on Pakistan in languages he was not familiar with, and suspended in 2005 on charges of dereliction of duty among others.
"They fabricate charges, harass and abandon you after 25 years of service. What do I do to send my children to school, to support my family?" Mr Natarajan told NDTV.
With no salary coming in for nine years, his wife, a homemaker, and two daughters have had to give up on most luxuries. The family was also forced to sell their properties.
"All my friends have fun. My father doesn't take us to movies, hotels and games. We sacrifice a lot," said Mr Natrajan's older daughter, who is in class 8.
RAW sources accused Mr Natrajan of financial irregularities and links with the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE, allegations that he strongly denied. The Centre is yet to decide on his case.
"If the Law Ministry says we need not challenge (the tribunal's verdict), we will implement the order, otherwise we'll challenge it" said Union Minister for Personnel and Training, V Narayanasamy.