Whenever Bhatia detected corruption and initiated action against the culprits protected by the establishment, he was transferred. In subsequent postings when he raised the old issues and asked for action against offenders, he was told that this was no longer his concern. Transfer is an instrument not only of harassment but also of silencing protest within the system. Bhatia's protests and findings remained suppressed and law breakers walked away unpunished, unassailable and stronger than before.

And so in 26 years of service (excluding the training period and service in the United Nations), Bhatia was removed from his post (transferred) 26 times.

As a Member of Parliament he will be in a far stronger position to obtain information and organise citizens to monitor the government, litigate against corruption and redress the grievances of the common person. He will also not be liable for transfer!

• Detected and published under reporting of deaths of tribal children under 5 to the extent of 57%.
• Prepared a report on 25.11.2002 identifying malnutrition as the cause of death of tribal children. The contents of the report were never rebutted. But the Govt. served a show cause notice on Bhatia for initiating disciplinary action for contradicting the government stand.
• Conducted case studies and prepared reports regarding corruption in the distribution of financial assistance to tribal women (25.6.2002), in the execution of watershed development works (8.11.2002), in distribution of roofing material to farmers (26.11.2002), in the construction of small dams (21.11.2002) etc. 50 % of development expenditure was diverted by corruption into the pockets of bureaucrats and politicians.
• Prepared report (27.5.2002) regarding the poor resettlement of project affected persons in respect of two large dams (Pimpalgaon Jog and Dimbhe) exposing the bad execution of the programme and the regression of project affected families into poverty after dam construction. The reports contained recommendations on how to improve scheme implementation, introduce monitoring and beneficiary participation, reduce malnutrition etc.

• Prepared a report (1999) for dissolving the Pune Corporation under the provisions of the Act on grounds of corruption pertaining to illegal recruitment of staff by politicians, incurring of expenditure without tenders through a politician - bureaucrat nexus etc. The culprits remain unpunished.
• Prepared a proposal to divert funds to slum improvement for items like toilets and drains but the politicians blocked the proposal and removed Bhatia.
• Attempted to introduce participative governance by educating citizens regarding the budget priorities.
• Suspended corrupt officials who were protected by corporators.
• Stopped selective demolition and demolished illegal buildings of influential persons.
• Began auction of property of large tax defaulters.
• Began quality checks of roads.
• Lodged cases against powerful politicians for abuse of corporation property/assets.
• Sent FIR against the Chief Secretary for corruption (1999) pointed out by the court many years ago but in which no action had been taken. The corruption pertained to favouring particular road contractors, sanctioning works without tenders etc. No action was taken and Bhatia was transferred, for the second time, suddenly within a few weeks.
• The first time when Bhatia was transferred from the Pune Corporation after 7 days, the citizens went to the High Court, defeated the govt. and had the transfer cancelled.

The Hon. Chief Justice, S. Radhakrishnan, on 13.4.1999, in Writ Petition 1395 of 1999 observed that

"the decision to transfer Bhatia, in the facts of the present case, is so outrageous that it defies all logic and any moral standard. No reasonable person could have arrived at such a decision. We wish to emphasise that during the present days when, unfortunately, corruption and dishonesty are at their peak, honesty and action as per law deserve a pat, rather than punishment. The transfer of Bhatia, in our view, is in the nature of punishment".

• A departmental enquiry was started against Bhatia for filing a writ in the High Court against four police officials who intimidated and threatened to lodge a false criminal case against a corporation official who had detected the recycling of hospital waste in the Joshi Hospital in Pune.

• Organised campaign and detected 107 serious cases of corruption, forgery etc. against Talathis and Circle Officers. Before the guilty could be punished, Bhatia was prematurely transferred.
• Prepared report regarding corruption in the Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority regarding over payment to contractor etc.
• Prepared report regarding corruption in the Irrigation Dept. involving false and inflated measurements of work done.
• transparency in land distribution to project displaced persons and exposed lands not acquired and given to project affected persons to favour vested interests.

• Took action against large companies like Glaxo for recycling of rejected drugs from their factory. Glaxo approached the High Court with allegations against Bhatia. But the High Court upheld Bhatia's actions and Glaxo lost.
• In the midst of the inspection of the second factory of Glaxo, Bhatia was abruptly and prematurely transferred.

• Reported corruption in the employment exchange under the Social Welfare Dept. in sending names to prospective employers
• Reported against the assistant of the Minister for molesting a female employee in an institution of the department.
• Surveyed the bogus and inflated strength of students in ashram shalas (residential schools) for tribals which was done to claim higher Govt. subsidy.
• Was transferred after a year.

• Detected and reported corruption in the implementation of the Urban Land Ceiling Act by manipulation of the city maps to show backdated and bogus construction not in existence in order to part with less land to the government. No action has been taken till now in spite of repeated letters to the government.
• Detected illegal construction of the Arihant building in South Bombay near Mahalaxmi etc. and lodged police cases against builders in respect of FSI violations including those previously detected by Bhatia’s predecessor. Also complained against senior officers in the IAS for protecting corrupt officers, interfering in transfers made by Bhatia, removing Bhatia from investigations etc.
• When these land scandals were detected in Bombay, the Revenue Secretary gave Bhatia a bad report. However the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra had this to say.

"I do not agree (with the bad comments). Shri Bhatia showed himself as an honest, strong willed officer who did not succumb to extraordinary pressure exerted on him in connection with the exposure of Bombay city FSI (Floor Space Index) record scandals. An exceptional officer who did not endear himself to superiors but won acclaim of the press and the public".

The existence of pressure and the displeasure of senior officers was openly acknowledged!

• A departmental enquiry was started against Bhatia for making allegations against senior officers for protecting guilty officials.
• Promotion was denied and Bhatia went to court, defeated the government, and obtained his promotion in 1991.

• Detected corruption and lodged 42 police cases against officials of various departments (Agriculture, Irrigation, Soil Conservation, Forest, Public Works) for corruption in the Employment Guarantee Scheme involving short payment to labourers, bogus payments for work not done, bogus payments to labourers not in existence etc.
• Bhatia was suddenly transferred having only completed a year. The transfer was made in violation of the recommendation of the High Powered Legislature Committee appointed to report on the corruption, which applauded Bhatia's work and specifically recommended that he should not be transferred. These facts are documented in the published report of the Committee.

• Took an uncompromising stand against the political transfers and victimisation of school teachers, illegal sanctioning of works to other than the lowest bidder, not prosecuting village sarpanchas guilty of misappropriating public funds etc.
• Was transferred within a year.