‘And this man came to the branch with another man’s passbook,’ said Raj, ‘they sure are a team.’
‘I took all this to my manager,’ said Jainika gloomily
‘What did he say?’ Raj knew there was no hope.
‘He dismissed it saying, “We had the main culprit in our company. Don't waste time outside.”’
‘And there’s so much fuss today. They say two people are missing from Chennai branch. One is you. Who could the other be?’ The news perturbed Raj. He had been fearing something since the time he left Chennai.
‘And we cannot use the private detectives anymore,’ Jainika whispered, ‘My boss somehow got to know.’
***
‘Madam will come in ten minutes,’ said the guard. Amba walked over to the shop opposite the office premises and waited. He had arranged lunch for Geetha after a sleepless night and hurried to the GIC office.
A fair middle-aged lady alighted from a car and walked into the office premises. The guard waved at Amba to hurry. After the lady took her seat in her cabin, the security told her, ‘Madam, one sir is waiting for an hour to meet you.’
‘Bring him here’
‘Madam, RH sir told not to allow customers inside cabin.’
‘Today manager sir is on leave,’ said Akhila with irritation, ‘so please bring that person here.’ She never had a liking for the security. She despised how he followed the instructions of the RH by the letter.
She swallowed the tablets, to control blood pressure, advised by a Doctor when she fainted the day following Raj’s disappearance. She tried not to think about that fateful day but the labour of swallowing the tablet was strongly associated with the disappearance of the two.
She closed her eyes and told herself, ‘Everything is fine. Do not think about Raj and Priyanka.’ The images of Raj and Priyanka flashed in her mind and she clutched her fist, grunting.
‘Good morning madam!’ The voice of a young man cleared her thoughts.
‘Good morning!’ she said flashing her teeth.
‘I am Ambareesh. I need your help on something.’
‘Ambareesh, we are here to serve. We go a long way to help our customers. Please tell me how I can help you.’
‘Well, my friend worked here. And he’s missing.’ Amba saw the woman in front of him turn pale with every word he said. Her eyes dropped as if she was falling asleep.
‘Ma’am,’ said Amba and the lady fell head-first on the table with a thud loud enough to startle the guard and make him run towards her cabin.
‘Madam fainted again.’ The guard making no attempt to join Amba who was trying to hold the lady upright on her seat. Amba saw another young boy behind the guard. ‘Get some water.’ The guard ran. The boy picked a bottle from a cabin behind him and handed it to Amba. After making the lady lie on the floor, Amba sprinkled water on her face. She awoke and a look of confusion appeared on her face.
A group of employees had gathered around the desk. Some women came forward and took charge of Akhila. Amba walked out of the crowd and came face to face with the guard.
‘You said, “Madam fainted again”.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said the guard, ‘madam fainted recently. One boy, Raj, was working in her team. He committed a big fraud and madam did not even know. When she got to know about the fraud, she fainted.’
‘What fraud did that guy commit?’ asked Amba trying not to sound very curious.
‘I heard the manager talking over the phone. That boy and one girl did it together. This boy will make some people take insurance policy. Then those people will go into hiding. Then this boy and girl will make claim from the company and take the money. They will claim ten lakh or twenty lakh rupees sir.’
‘Oh,’ said Amba trying to assimilate what the guard said, ‘Who is that girl?’
‘She was his lover sir. Her name is Priyanka. They were always together sir. Discussing secrets. They need time to plan right sir? He was in sales department. She was in finance department. So they both must have planned and done this fraud sir.’
‘How many?' asked Amba.
‘Ten to fifteen sir. This Akhila madam has no brains sir. She did not even check what that boy was doing. Before also there was one boy. This madam was always smiling with him. The Regional Head sir did not like that boy so he transferred him. That boy also died in accident sir. Last few days only bad news sir.’
***
Jainika’s boss walked in. He didn't ask her what she was doing. How strange? She looked at the files in front of her. She had compared the details in the claim files with those in the account opening forms. The addresses, date of births, family details were all the same. She suddenly grunted, ‘Fool!’
‘What?’ Naresh had heard her.
‘I am a fool,’ she said, not looking up. Naresh said something close to ‘I know.’ Jainika did not bother.
Of course the data would be the same. It’s the documents I must check.
She pulled out ID proofs from the claim files which were compiled by the insurance company. She then pulled out ID proofs from the account opening file, which was maintained by the bank.
PAN cards matched. Ration Cards matched. Voter IDs matched. Jainika was disappointed.
***
Arijit walked in to the house, with a newspaper in hand. He was worried.
‘Raj, see this,’ he pointed at an article on the fourth page.
Employees escape after attempt to defraud company.
Set in the middle of the article were the pictures of Raj and Priyanka. Raj’s fingers trembled seeing the article.
‘Mitro, Priyanka is in trouble.’ Raj was shaking.
‘Don't panic. We’ll help her.’
‘I should have thought about her earlier,’ said Raj, who was full of guilt now.
‘Let’s not do anything in a hurry. I think this news is a bait. You have discovered that some fraud is going on. They want to get you. This is what I can gather from this news.’ Raj remained silent as he thought about what Arijit had said.
‘The proof against you is that you transferred money into accounts of those dead people. But what is the proof against Priyanka?’
‘I don't know Mitro. I don't know what the hell is happening.’
‘Relax boss. Find solid evidence regarding the fraud. That’s the only way to save Priyanka.’
‘I have to go back. I have let Geetha down. Now I have let Priyanka also down.’
‘How will going back help?’
‘I will surrender. I have to save Priyanka.’
‘Assuming she is in trouble, is there any guarantee you will save her by going back? But if you have solid evidence, you have blackmail them to let her free.’
‘I should inform Amba’
‘You decide. If he’s a cool person, tell him. We cant afford to have panicky people knowing much.’
‘He sure is panicky,’ said Raj, confused, ‘but I can trust him.’
‘Geetha will be safe with him, assuming she had come out of the school in the first place. You can handle that after this fraud is resolved,’ said Arijit, ‘because you should not drag them into this mess.’
‘That’s right. I have already given them enough trouble.’ Raj had made his decision. I hope they keep out of this.
Arijit looked at the paper again and said, ‘Usually they will write, a FIR has been registered at so and so police station. There is nothing like that in this paper.’
He read the news again.
Employees escape after attempt to defraud company.
Two employees of a highly reputed Insurance Company alleged to have fled with money they earned from fraudulent claims. Raj, 24, and Priyanka, 25, were recruited into the company a few months ago. The couple’s sudden disappearance had sparked suspicion and subsequent investigation has led to the discovery of the alleged fraud. An employee of the company who prefers to remain anonymous said that the couple’s activities were suspicious from the beginning. The m
anager of the branch where the two worked was unavailable to comment.
***
Clutching a newspaper, Bala ran to the study hall. He was on a break to relax himself when he saw the newspaper. Their final board exam was on the next day. When Viki saw the paper, he went silent.
Office worked elopes with stolen money
An office worker Sita(name changed), 24, is alleged to have eloped after stealing money from the safe at a reputed private school. When asked how Sita managed to gain entry into the safe room, the school authorities refused to comment. She is alleged to have stolen a sum of two lakh rupees. Sita’s father, who is an auditor has confirmed that he does not have information on the whereabouts of his daughter. The search is on for the alleged thief. The school authorities have assured that every precaution is being taken to avoid such incidents in the future.
‘What is happening?’
‘She hesitated even to take the phone we gave her. She would never steal,’ said Bala.
‘Hope they both are safe,’ murmured Viki.
‘How can we be sure they met?’
Viki’s face was writ with fear.
‘In case she hadn’t met Raj, she couldn’t have contacted us. She couldn’t have come back either.’
‘To be sure she met him, there’s only one way.’
‘What is that?’ asked Bala.
‘We have to visit the insurance company where Raj worked.’
‘Let’s do it tomorrow then. First thing after the exam.’
‘I’ll manage my parents. You manage yours. We’ll get out soon.’
‘We can’t be peaceful till we know she’s safe.’
‘We’ll celebrate your birthday with her,’ said Viki.
‘I’d love that. It’s just four days to my birthday.’
‘But your official birthday is five days away. We will find her before that. She kept telling me she wanted to make the day special for you.’
‘She can still make it, if she shows up’
***
‘Jainika, did you see the paper?’ asked Raj.
‘I saw it, Raj,’ said Jainika, ‘I have been calling many people in Chennai office. None of them seem to know. They all thought you both were on leave till they saw the paper.’
‘I think I made a mistake. She would be safe now if I hadn’t run.’
‘That’s a foolish thing to say. Now you can at least try and save her. Had you been caught, you'd not even have a chance.’ Raj didn’t say anything. ‘That is assuming she is in trouble. What if she comes back to office in the evening saying she overslept?’
‘I wish she does. If something happens to her, I will not spare anyone involved. I will kill everyone on the list.’ Jainika could feel how angry he was. She was on the metro, on the way back home.
After a pause, she said, ‘I will keep the list updated’ and a smile appeared on Raj’s face.
‘Did you smile?' she asked.
‘No!’ Raj grinned.
‘I failed today also. I wish you smile at least once because of me.’
‘I am grinning like a fool, you idiot’
‘Yay!' squealed Jainika, ‘You made my day.’
‘So, who are all on the list?’ asked Raj.
‘Those five who got refund from you.’
‘Then?’
‘RH.’
Raj laughed. ‘Do we have any progress today?’
‘I know I am slow Raj. But I am not able to demand anything from the other departments since my boss is not supportive.’
‘Hey, no offence meant. I know you are doing your best while you have no reason to help me.’
‘Stop talking like that.’
‘Okay.’
‘I have circulated the pictures of those five people. Our people are on the field. They usually get a catch in 24 hours. Max 36.’
‘Good. Send me the pictures of those five jokers by Whatsapp.’
‘I will. Also, I have been fiddling with the IDs proofs of those customers. I compared the ID proofs from their bank KYC and from the claim files. They are identical.’
‘I totally forgot,’ said Raj, ‘I wanted to tell you something.’
Day 4
The school gates were thrown open and three cars drove in. A plump man in his late fifties got out of the car in the middle. Men from the other cars joined him and they together walked into the principal’s office. The plump man took the seat opposite the principal whose forehead began to sweat in the air conditioned room.
The man placed a bundle wrapped in yellow cloth on the table and said, ‘This is nothing for me.’ The principal recalled the conversations he had with the Vice principal
‘He is a big man,’ Vanita had said, ‘we can settle this offline.’
‘This has to be out on record,’ he had replied, ‘let them reply to the legal notice. This should deter any others who may be into such activities. Send the legal notice. We’ll deal whatever may come.’
The legal notice to Geetha’s family had had its effect. The family was devastated that their daughter had eloped. They were struggling enough to face the people of their caste. The legal notice demanding the return of the two lakh rupees stoled by Geetha from the school had added to their embarrassment.
‘Here’s the money with interest. The last thing I want to be called is the father of a thief. I don’t know how she came to take birth in my family. Our caste is pure and superior. I am glad that I got rid of a weed though I lost my daughter.’
The principal was too shocked to respond.
‘Anyway, that’s not why I came here. Someone in this school must’ve helped her. She couldn’t have managed to do so much by herself.’
‘Sir,’ the principal interrupted, ‘as far as we know, she did it all by herself.’
‘Sir then who is Gopi?’ asked the man.
‘Gopi…’ the principal said and thought for a while. He stretched his arm and rang the bell on his table. The door opened and a peon walked in.
‘Check all registers for the name Gopi,’ the principal said, ‘students, staff, non-teaching staff, anybody who entered the campus.’
‘Yes sir.’ The peon turned to leave. ‘Gopinath, Gopika, and whatever combinations of Gopi.’
‘Yes sir.’ The next instruction came from Geetha’s father, ‘Check names of parents of students also.’
‘Yes sir.’
The man began to laugh out loud. The principal had a confused look on his face.
‘So you are also part of this drama,’ said the man.
‘What do you mean sir?’
‘You didn't ask me how I arrived at the name Gopi. You directly ordered a search.’
The principal’s face turned pale. It was Antony’s plan to frame Geetha for theft but the latter disappearing was a shock to them. He wondered if Antony had used him as a pawn in his game with Geetha.
He initially suspected that someone had helped Geetha. His investigations had all hit walls and he finally accepted himself that Geetha had done everything on her own. But he was not entirely convinced. That was why he did not think twice when a name was presented to him. But the allegation from Geetha’s father that the principal himself was party to the crime was unacceptable.
‘Well, sir,’ said the principal at length, ‘we spent a lot of time investigating if someone had helped Geetha. We did not find anyone. Now since you mentioned a name, I did not think twice.’
‘So, you sent a legal notice when you were still unsure if someone from inside had helped her.’
‘Nobody from inside helped her sir. We are conducting this search just to prove that to you.’
‘I want all the records.’
‘That is impossible,’ the principal said loudly.
The man smiled and said, ‘I know how to get the records. Given your caste, you should be honoured that you are sitting opposite me and talking.’
The principal was left bewildered by the last statement
the man made. Words deserted him. ‘There were only three mobile phones that travelled in the bus she went. One belonged to the driver and one was a staff. The third was carried by Geetha. And she had made calls to only one number. That bastard’s. The SIM card she used is in the name of Gopi. Both his and the SIM card Geetha carried were removed at Chennai Central minutes apart.’
The man was pleased with the shock on the principal’s face. ‘Men of my caste are in all high positions. I can get any information I want.’
‘Sir,’ the principal said, ‘we will support you to find your daughter.’
‘That thief is not my daughter anymore. I don’t want her back. I came here to make it clear to you that our caste has a high standard.’ The principal picked the landline receiver next to him as soon as the man left and dialled three keys.
‘When the 12th standard students return after writing their last board exam today, I want the whole school to gather for a meeting in the auditorium. Inform everyone including teachers just 5 minutes before the meeting.’
***
Jainika pulled open her draw and picked the bunch of voter IDs she had pulled out from the claim files. She highlighted the numbers on the right bottom of each ID card. Her eyes bulged. Raj, you’re brilliant! They’ve made a terrible error.
She sat in silence for a couple of minutes. She then rang her boss on his mobile, ‘Boss I need the help of the office boy to rearrange some files.’ Pause ‘I will be careful.’ She needed her boss’s permission to bring anyone else inside the area. When the office boy arrived, she said, ‘There are three thousand four hundred Personal Accident claim files here.’ The boy nodded.
‘I want you to open each file and check the copy of voter ID in it.’ The boy’s jaw dropped.
‘Look here,’ she held up a sample voter ID. ‘This number on the back side,’ she pointed at the figure on the right bottom, on the back side of the voter’s ID. ‘There will be a number followed by a slash followed by another number,’ Jainika said slowly, to ensure the boy understands, ‘Ignore the first number. If the second number is 1625, keep the file aside.’
Accidental Inquisitors Page 9
