Inspector Reddy and Vikram went to the Lohia mansion at the appointed time. They were again shown into the library where Gaurav was waiting.
This time, Mr Dalal, the family lawyer, was present. He vehemently expressed his displeasure at this repeated questioning by police.
But Inspector Reddy in no mood for interference from lawyers. He snapped back, ‘This is a high profile murder case and we are under intense pressure to solve this case. Richa was the much-loved daughter of Chetan Bajaj. He is following up every day with us. Please let us do our duty.’
He then looked at Gaurav and asked, ‘Did you see the orthopaedist, Dr Shetty?’
Gaurav snapped back, ‘Of course not. I do not have any bone-related problems.’
‘Then why did you produce a prescription from Dr Shetty to buy phenelzine?’
Gaurav looked outraged. ‘What nonsense are you talking? Firstly, I never go out to buy medicines. My secretary sees to my needs. Secondly I do not use phenelzine. Now wait a minute. The autopsy report mentioned that phenelzine was found in my wife’s body. Are you suggesting that I gave her phenelzine?’
Mr Dalal was equally outraged. ‘How dare you put up such false allegations against my client? I will not hesitate to sue you if you bring false charges against such a well-respected man as Gaurav Lohia.’
Gaurav said, ‘Mr Dalal, calm down.’
Then looking at Inspector Reddy he asked, ‘What day did I allegedly buy the prescription drug?’
Inspector Reddy reported the day after first consulting the bill that had been procured from the pharmacist.
Gaurav’s eyes narrowed. ‘Now around that day I think I was in Mumbai. Let me check.’
He picked up the intercom and asked his secretary to look up his schedule on that date.
He then turned toward Inspector Reddy and Vikram, ‘My secretary is checking my past appointments. But I am sure that on the day it is alleged that I bought the drug, I was in Mumbai. I had travelled to Mumbai the previous day for business and came back the day after. I have ample evidence to prove my statement. The day I am supposed to have bought phenelzine, I had back-to-back meetings in my Mumbai office and a lot of my employees will affirm my statement. Mr Surana was also with me for the entire time on that day. We breakfasted together and also had dinner together in our hotel.’
12
Rohan Lohia
Inspector Reddy and Vikram were totally flummoxed. Apologising sheepishly, they left Lohia Mansion. They were both silent on the drive back to the police station. ‘Hope Gaurav Lohia does not really sue us for defamation,’ Inspector Reddy said. ‘The commissioner is putting intense pressure on us to crack this case at the earliest. The paparazzi is having a gala time at our expense.’ Reddy added ruefully.
Vikram said, ‘I already told you it sounded strange that Gaurav had bought phenelzine himself.’
That evening, Inspector Reddy called. ‘I had been re-checking calls from Rohan’s mobile on the day of the murder. Nine calls were made to Richa within a span of two hours. Each call lasted on an average of six minutes. Based on this information, we are getting a search warrant and going to search Rohan’s apartment and confiscate his cell phone for further examination. I personally think that he was having an affair with Richa’
Vikram said, ‘I still maintain that he is not the kind of person who would have an affair with his sister-in-law. He is too decent a human being.’
Inspector Reddy said, ‘I think that you are blinded by your friendship. All fingers are pointing to the involvement of Rohan. Let us meet Rohan Lohia tomorrow. I am beginning to believe that he is more deeply involved in this matter than we think. I am setting up an appointment with him. I want you to come along with me.’
Feeling dejected, Vikram went to bed. He was feeling sick and tired. Rohan -- a murderer! His brain seemed unable to accept the fact. He tried to call Veena, but she must have been in a meeting as she did not pick up the call.
The next day, Inspector Reddy went to the Lohia mansion along with a few more policemen. Vikram arrived slightly later than the inspector, and was really surprised at the elaborate arrangements.
Today Rohan was playing the role of the arrogant rich industrialist looking down at the proletarian policeman. When Inspector Reddy produced a search warrant, he looked at him like he was a worm that had crawled into his fancy salad. Then sighing at the disgusting and obnoxious behaviour of the working classes, he said sternly, ‘Okay, search the house if you have to, but there are many delicate and expensive items lying around, so be careful not to break them or mishandle them in any way.’
Then sighing again, he said in a martyred voice, ‘I would like to know why you want to search my house.’
Inspector Reddy said, ‘Someone impersonated Gaurav and bought phenelzine in his name. After all it is quite an easy thing to do. One has only to wear a beard like him and copy his mannerisms. The pharmacist had only seen him in photos. So he would have been easy to dupe. Even a person of medium height wearing heels and that trademark white shirt and dark suit and gold-framed glasses could have impersonated Gaurav. But that person must have known Gaurav intimately. In fact all fingers point to you, Rohan.’
‘That is outrageous. I shall call my lawyer at once!’
Rohan stormed from the room as Inspector Reddy turned to Vikram.
‘I am sorry, Vikram. I know that he is your friend but it seems to me that he is the culprit. He is slightly shorter than Gaurav, but he is an actor. It would be extremely easy for him to wear heels and a false beard and glasses and impersonate Gaurav.’
Vikram said, ‘If Rohan is a murderer, then he must be punished. But I am not convinced. The more important question to me is, why would he want to kill Richa?’
Inspector Reddy answered, ‘I think that he was having an affair with Richa and they had a falling out. Perhaps she threatened to tell Kiara about his infidelity. By dressing up as Gaurav and buying the phenelzine, he hoped to prove that Gaurav is the murderer. That way, not only would he get control of the entire family property, but also silence Richa.’
‘I have one more point which proves that Rohan is not guilty. How would he get a false prescription?’
‘Oh, he might have bribed someone in the good doctor’s clinic,’ Inspector Reddy responded glibly.
At that moment, a policeman came in holding a false beard and a prescription pad from Dr Shetty. The beard was shaped in the way Gaurav was accustomed to wearing his beard.
Inspector Reddy rubbed his hands gleefully, looking triumphantly at Vikram. He asked the policemen, ‘Where did you get these Santosh?’
‘Sir, they were on the top of a cupboard in a rarely used guestroom,’ the policeman responded.
‘Excellent work, Santosh. Ask Rohan to come and meet us immediately.’
Rohan came back into the room. It was evident from his face that he was still very upset.
‘Hmm. Let us now check your mobile, Mr Rohan Lohia.’ Rohan almost threw the phone at Reddy.
‘Are you trying to prove that I am the murder? Do I look like a murderer? Vikram, do you also believe this?’
Inspector Reddy held up a hand.
‘I find that Dr Shetty’s clinic number is in your phone and the pharmacy’s number in Jubilee Hills is also there. I am sorry, Mr Rohan Lohia. All the evidence overwhelmingly points to you as the murderer.’
‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ Rohan shouted in panic. His face had gone deathly pale and sweat beads had appeared on his forehead. His eyes turned from Vikram to Inspector Reddy. He had been the debonair lord of the manor before. Now he simply looked like a very frightened man.
He said, ‘I do not understand this. I have no idea about this beard and prescription pad. I do not know how those phone numbers got saved in my mobile. I did not even know that a drug like phenelzine existed before the autopsy report.’
Vikram said, ‘Did you lose your mobile at any point recently?’
Rohan said, ‘Yes I did mispla
ce my mobile for a few hours on the day that Richa died. I found it lying under the dining table later. It must have fallen from my pocket while I was eating. But I have never contacted Dr Shetty nor have I bought phenelzine. I was quite fond of Richa bhabi. I would never kill her. Please believe me.’ He looked piteously at Vikram and said, ‘Vikram, you must believe me.’
Vikram hung his head in shame, unable to say anything. Rohan was led away by the police.
13
Vikram Introspects
Kiara, whatever her fault, stood by Rohan and fought like a tigress on his behalf.
Inspector Reddy expressed his admiration for Kiara in private to Vikram, who nodded thoughtfully. ‘Yes, she is one of those women who show their best in adversity. It brings out all that is sweetest and truest in them. Her pride and jealousy have . . .’
‘Jealousy?’
‘Yes, she is an unusually proud and jealous woman. She did suspect Rohan of having an affair with Richa at one time. That is why she was afraid when I questioned her in her office. She thought that I knew about her suspicions concerning the supposed affair. Yet, even when she suspected Rohan herself, she affirmed to me that she and Rohan had been together on the day of the murder. But that was obviously not true, we know now.’
The newspapers, television channels and the internet were full of the Lohia murder. Inspector Reddy was being hailed as a hero for solving the murder so promptly. Vikram was also given credit though he did not want any credit. Nor was he convinced that Rohan was the murderer. He just did not know what to do. He felt depressed and at loose ends. He decided to go and meet his wife Veena in Mumbai. He was dozing in front of the television in his living room when his cell rang. It was Veena asking him what time he would land in Mumbai.
Vikram took the flight to Mumbai. He was a minor celebrity now. The air hostesses recognised him and gave him special smiles and a complimentary hot breakfast. A small child in the airport had taken his autograph.
The plane landed on time in Mumbai. He came out to the exit to find Veena waiting for him with a bouquet in her hands. She was looking gorgeous. She waved madly on seeing him.
‘Oh Vikram, Darling!’
‘Hi baby!’ Vikram said, looking at her admiringly, ‘You look good enough to eat!’
‘Now, do not be coarse,’ Veena said. ‘Vikram, you are in today’s newspaper. I watched you on NDTV. I am so proud of you!’
‘Fine,’ Vikram said slightly shamefacedly.
‘What is wrong, Vikram?’ Veena asked once they had taken a taxi back to the service apartment where she was staying.
Vikram sighed and said miserably, ‘I am not convinced that Rohan is the murderer. But all the evidence points overwhelmingly to his guilt! I just do not know what to do.’
Veena consoled him and they used room service to order dinner. Vikram was coming down with a cold and Veena went down to the pharmacy located near the apartment and bought a bottle of Nyquil for him. Vikram fell into a heavy sleep after taking the medicine after dinner.
He dreamt that Richa was standing by the gate of the Lohia mansion and was holding out her hands toward him as if asking for his help. Next he saw that she was in the bedroom and asking Lakshmi to get another bottle of Nyquil as the current one was almost empty. It was clear that she was suffering from a bad cold. Then his dream changed. He was attending a party with Veena. The party had been thrown by Rohan and Kiara. Kiara was smiling at him and asked, ‘Would you like to have a cocktail.’ Suddenly he woke up. His eyes were bright and shining. He knew now how the murder was committed. A cocktail of drugs had been used. He had remembered some points from the forensic tutorial he had to take during his tenure as a cop. He was also sure that Rohan was not the murderer. But he had to have a medical confirmation.
In the morning, he called up Dr Shetty.
‘Dr Shetty, this is Vikram. I met you the other day along with Inspector Reddy.’
‘Yes I remember you, young man. Tell me what can I do for you?’
‘Dr Shetty, what happens if phenelzine and Nyquil are taken together?’
Dr Shetty said, ‘It will certainly be fatal. Initially the patient would feel abnormally happy and energetic. But within an hour or two he or she would have spasms, high blood pressure, seizures, stroke and certain death. That is why we caution patients when prescribing phenelzine that they should always consult us before taking any other medication.
By the way, the day we spoke I forgot to mention one thing. Though I do not know Gaurav Lohia, I do know Juhi, his children’s ex-governess. Her mother was an ayah who worked for me for a long time. This girl Juhi was studying to be a pharmacist and sometimes used to come to me for guidance. Poor child. Her mother died suddenly and she had to take up a job and quit studying. A pity really, as she was quite a bright student. She visited me around six months back – just a friendly visit. At that time she mentioned that she was working as a governess in the Lohia family and that she had adequate money and a roof over her head.’
Vikram felt excited. Here was the breakthrough they had been looking for. Juhi must have pinched the prescription pad from Dr Shetty. But who bought the drugs? Gaurav had proved beyond any doubt that he had been in Mumbai on that particular day. Vikram thought he knew. He called up Inspector Reddy and explained his theory to him and suggested some action points. Though sceptical, Inspector Reddy was willing to cooperate.
Vikram booked a flight to Hyderabad. He had to save his friend Rohan at all costs.
14
Another Meeting with Lakshmi
After returning home, Vikram prepared a cup of tea and sat down at his desk in his private office. He was reflecting on the case. He had been sitting in the same position for the past two hours when rumblings in his stomach reminded him that it was nearing lunchtime. He was planning to get a pizza delivered to his home when his cell phone rang. It was Lakshmi. She was speaking in a low voice as if she feared being overheard. She told him that she wanted to talk to him urgently.
She said that she would come out of the gate and wait for him near the place where the private road to the house began. It was clear that she wanted to give him some confidential information.
Vikram drove very fast and reached the meeting place within twenty minutes. Lakshmi quickly got into the car, glancing around nervously to check if anybody was watching, and then requested Vikram to drive away from the house.
While Vikram was driving she started speaking rapidly, ‘Gaurav bhaiya wants me to leave the job. After so many years of loyal service, this is how he is treating me. It pains me to see Rohan bhaiya in jail. I am sure he is innocent.
‘I have taken so much care of this family and now that Richa didi is dead they are treating me so badly! Arre, I neglected my own family to take care of these people and now they want to throw me out because they do not need me anymore. God is watching from above, he will take care of me.
‘Today, I will tell you every dirty secret of this family, how badly they treated Richa didi.
‘Richa didi loved Gaurav bhaiya with all her heart. But Gaurav sir treated her disgracefully. I came with her in this house when she got married to Gaurav bhaiya. I have known her since she was a small girl of ten. She was a lovely person. Hai hai, with her my own peace and happiness have gone. I wish I had died along with her.’
‘So was the marriage good initially?’ – Vikram interjected.
‘Sir, initially they were very much in love. But after around fifteen years of marriage, Gaurav sir started to get bored and then they got separate bedrooms. He was very cold and cruel towards didi. Richa didi sometimes used to go mad wondering why he had changed so much.’
‘So why did he change so much? Was he interested in some other woman?’
‘I have no idea why he changed so much. As far as I can judge, Richa didi had been a perfect wife and mother of his children. He even tried to alienate the children from Richa didi. He discouraged the children from going to their mother and instigated them against her. He took ho
lidays with them leaving her alone and isolated.’
‘But according to the press they had a very happy marriage.’
‘That was just a show, sir. They attended all official parties together and she was the official hostess. That is all she was to him.’ Her face had reddened in anger.
Vikram could see how much Lakshmi must have resented her Richa’s ill-treatment at the hands of her husband.
‘So why did she not leave him?’
‘Her father was strictly against divorce and would not have supported her if she had quit the marriage. Also Richa didi herself believed in the sanctity of marriage. Anyway, she never stopped loving Gaurav bhaiya. She was in great despair over this change in Gaurav bhaiya’s attitude. She poured out her heart in letters and diaries, writing to her husband with entreaties, recriminations, apologies, demands, and expressions of longing for him. She kept asking why he had stopped loving her, why he was trying to distance their beloved children from her. Even though they lived under the same roof, she asked me to deliver notes to Gaurav bhaiya, sometimes several a day. She was forbidden from even entering his bedroom. She was slowly but surely going mad. Yet the more she tried to cling to him, the more he distanced himself. Her frequent emotional outbursts unnerved Gaurav bhaiya and the children, yet most of us, the servants, remained devoted to her and she still moved in society. No one outside the family had any idea of the turmoil that was happening inside the house. The aristocratic show must go on – there may be screams and scenes behind closed doors, but appearances are to be kept up,’ she said cynically.
‘So what was Gaurav’s reaction to her notes?’
‘Gaurav bhaiya is a very reserved man, Sir. It was very difficult to judge what he was thinking. He was a quiet man, cold and somewhat inert, and his usual reactions to his wife’s outbursts were silence and withdrawal, with occasional bursts of icy rage. But I think he was getting fed up with these notes because he nearly tore a note without even reading but remembering that I was still there in the room, he controlled himself.’
Vikram Rana Investigates: Tales of Murder and Deception in Hyderabad Page 7