* * *
Activist Arrested In Barton Killing
By Jay Ganesh
MUMBAI—Noted environmental activist Gaja Kohli was arrested yesterday in connection with the killing of Mohini CEO Liz Barton, shocking the city’s elite and possibly bringing an end to a much-scrutinized investigation.
Kohli’s arrest came after information provided by this newspaper. Material seized in a raid on the homes of two men arrested in connection with a series of burglaries revealed Barton’s home was a target of the break-ins. A police source says the burglar tripped on Barton’s body, panicked and stuffed it into his large red Louis Vuitton suitcase, which was later found dumped in Mahim.
The material seized also included a list of names of burglary victims, their neighbors, and their comings and goings. Reporters for this newspaper found Gaja Kohli’s partner, Arundhati Hingorani’s name on this list. Police sources say Kohli’s initial conversation about his access to Barton’s building was a lie. Upon further investigation, his alibi was also a lie, police said.
Kohli has admitted to receiving bribes from various companies in order to finance his lifestyle, police said.
Barton, upon overhearing him discuss illicit cash payments on the phone in the building’s hallway, threatened to leak his corruption to the media, police say. In the argument that followed, Kohli repeatedly struck and eventually killed the American CEO, police say.
Barton was found dead in Mahim last week, a day after she returned from Singapore.
The two men arrested earlier in connection with the case are being charged in a separate case of burglary.
The charges against Kohli tarnish the reputation of one of the country’s most respected environmentalists. Please turn to Page 3 for more.
Related coverage on Page 4.
* * *
Jay woke up with a terrible hangover. He had trouble lifting his head off the pillow. Perhaps, he thought, those last few drinks hadn’t been a good idea. He could no longer knock them back like he used to. But the good feeling from last night still lingered. The mood had been celebratory. His reporting on the Barton killing and the story of his role in the discovery of who killed her had secured him more than his fair share of attention. There had been media interviews and calls and e-mails from former colleagues whom he had lost touch with long ago. They all came out of the woodwork. After all, he thought, everyone wants a piece of the winner. It was nice feeling—to be wanted. He looked at Janet next to him, her eyes closed, peaceful. He sighed with contentment and went back to sleep.
* * *
A few miles away, Inspector Vijay Gaikwad was waking up. He groped for the alarm that was making an infernal racket and hoped he could will the impending day away.
“Get up,” Lata said. “Sometimes you’re worse than the kids.”
Gaikwad reluctantly opened his eyes and looked out the window. The sun was already up. Lata was looking down at him, smiling.
“Chai?”
He nodded, smiled at her, and reached out his hand. She took it; he pulled her down onto him.
“Now—this is a good morning,” he said.
“The kids . . .”
“They won’t wake up until you yell at them.”
“It’s tempting,” she said, still in two minds. But Gaikwad was already kissing her.
“We’ll be late for work.”
“One day is fine.”
She gave in, closed her eyes, and yielded to him.
The phone rang.
“Damn.”
“Must you get it?”
“I have to. It’s the cell—I sometimes hate this job,” he said as he reached for the phone.
“Gaikwad here.”
“Sir, there’s been a murder.”
Gaikwad listened silently as the details came one by one.
“I’ll leave right away,” he said. He looked guiltily at Lata. “Sorry.”
“I am used to it,” she said. “I married a policeman after all.”
“I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
He looked outside the window. Once again, it had begun to rain.
1 Mumbai or Bombay: While the city is officially Mumbai, I use the terms interchangeably to reflect actual usage.
2 jugaad: a Hindi term that roughly translates to overcoming privation through resourcefulness
3 raddi wallahs: scrap dealers who often sell used books
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Although the process of writing is solitary, there are many who’ve made the process easier over the years: my parents, who inculcated in me a love for reading; my older sister, a tough act to follow; my brother for his friendship; my agent, Josh Getzler, for incisive comments; and my editors Stephanie Kelly and Ben Sevier at Dutton Guilt Edged Mysteries. Lastly, this book wouldn’t have been written, let alone completed, without my wife. She poked, prodded, and cajoled me, honest in her critique but always steadfast in her support. I dedicate this book to her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishnadev Calamur is an editor at NPR in Washington, D.C. He was born in New Delhi and brought up in Mumbai, where he began his journalistic career. He has also lived in London and Missouri. This is his first published work of fiction. Calamur lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife and their dog.
Murder In Mumbai Page 18