Greed Lust Addiction

by Ravi Dabral

  The Judge said, “I dismiss the defamation case of ₹ 10 crores. There is no case to be pursued in this court against Suraj and Vijay for defaming Mr. Rawat, Mr. Thapar, ACP Siddique, and Mr. Mishra.”

  Hearing this judgement, Gulshan, Suraj, Vijay, and Seema were thrilled. After the success of the smart village project, followed by the win in elections, this was another victory for them. Gulshan was literally dancing after coming out of the court.

  Suraj called Guruji and informed him over the phone about the victory in the case. Suraj said, “Guruji, although it was a partial judgement, finally we won this case in the lower court because of two factors; strong belief in the judicial system, democratic and constitutional ways to get justice and sticking to the basic virtuous qualities and values to get success in life. All this has been possible due to the mental and spiritual powers I learned during the self-reform course under your mentorship.”

  Suraj called Mr. Madaan to thank him for his guidance. He then called and thanked Col. Pandey for his kind support and untiring efforts.

  Vijay said, “Suraj bhai, today I understand the power of truth. If we follow the righteous and virtuous path of truth, then we will definitely get success, but we need patience. Now, I will do my job with honesty and integrity. I cannot improve the corrupt police system alone, but with strong willpower will try to help others who are willing to improve the legal and police system. I have checked about a cybercrime course and decided to soon go to Bangalore to pursue this course to develop my skills and capabilities.”

  Gulshan said, “Suraj, today I feel that I have become a more confident professional lawyer. We won this case because of our mentors, retired Judge Mr. Madaan, Guruji, Col. Pandey, and Captain Singh. Senior citizens like them should come forward to guide the young generation to clean up the corrupt system for a better tomorrow. In a real sense, it is the victory of senior citizens. Now I understand why it is said old is gold.”

  Meanwhile, Seema came there and said, “Suraj, now I am also jobless like you. Mr. Thapar told me that I have been terminated from my services.”

  Suraj said, “Don’t worry, together we will help each other to find the job.”

  Although this was the happiest day for Suraj in a long time, he was still worried about his future as now he needed to do something to feed himself and his family. He had to return the money to the insurance companies and bank. He called Priya to inform her that they had won the case. She was delighted. She gave the phone to his parents. They were relieved and happy on hearing the news.

  While they all were talking to each other, they saw Mr. Khurana coming towards them.

  Khurana said, “Congratulations to all of you. You deserved this victory. Gulshan was awesome in the court. For me, it was a defeat, but that is what the legal system is all about – only one party can win in the legal battle fought in the courtroom, cases with strong facts and evidence must win to uphold the justice.”

  Khurana shook hands with Gulshan and said, “Gulshan, if you are free today evening, can we meet? I am very impressed with your performance and have a proposal for you. This is my visiting card, and you can call me any time today.”

  Gulshan was surprised at this offer from a prominent lawyer like Mr. Khurana, but controlling his emotions, he said, “Let me talk to my team and get back to you.”

  Khurana said, “I will wait for your call. Try your best as you will be pleased to hear my proposal.” Saying this he left.

  Gulshan asked Suraj, “Should I meet him or not? I don’t know what his proposal will be.”

  Suraj said, “There is no harm in meeting him. After meeting him, you can decide whether to accept or reject the proposal. But whether the proposal is good or bad, don’t react immediately; buy some time to review it.”

  Gulshan said, “OK, I will follow your suggestion, and I will meet you today later in the evening to update you on Mr. Khurana’s proposal.”

  After saying this, Gulshan left the place and soon after Suraj received a call on his mobile, “Hi Suraj, congratulations for winning the case.”

  Suraj surprisingly asked, “Hi, who is this?”

  The voice on the other side said, “Suraj, this is Jaidev – your school friend and now Swami Jaidev baba. Do you remember, we discussed the baba business model a few years back when I requested all friends to invest in my baba business project.”

  Suraj enthusiastically said, “Hi Jaidev, yes I can remember. Thanks for the greetings and for your call after a long time. How are you, my friend? How is your baba business going on?”

  Jaidev said, “I am fine Suraj, thanks. Gulshan told me about you and what happened with you in the last one year. Man, you are really a hero. You’ve undergone so many obstacles and survived victorious, through your virtues, values, and morals. Salute to you!”

  Suraj said, “Thanks Jaidev for your encouraging words.”

  Jaidev said, “Suraj, I need your advice on a critical matter. Can I come and meet you as I cannot discuss the issue over the phone?”

  Suraj said, “I am saving your mobile number in my cell phone and will call you soon to meet and discuss your problem.”

  Jaidev said, “Thanks Suraj, I will wait for your call” and disconnected the call.

  49

  Khurana’s Surprising Proposal

  L ater in the evening, Suraj received a call from Gulshan to update him on Khurana’s proposal.

  Both met at a coffee shop, and when they were seated, Gulshan said, “When you hear what Mr. Khurana proposed to me, you will be shocked to know how the judiciary is manipulated in our country. Gulshan narrated to Suraj his conversation with Khurana.”

  After initial greetings, Khurana requested me to keep my mobile switched off.

  Khurana said, “I am also switching off my mobile. I am sure you understand that nowadays there are many mobile apps which can record our conversation. I am scared of your investigative journalist friend Suraj, so I want to keep our conversation without any recordings. Hope you understand what I mean?” We both switched off our mobiles.

  Khurana began, “Let me come to the point without wasting our valuable time. No doubt your performance in the court was superb. You really submitted strong evidence. You were very professional, and your cross-examination was excellent. You will be surprised to know that you were just part of a game in which everything was fixed.”

  I said, “I am not getting you, Mr. Khurana.”

  He replied, “It was a fixed judgement, similar to match-fixing in cricket or other games.”

  I was surprised and said, “I don’t believe you.”

  Khurana said, “Gulshan, the practical legal system is very different from whatever theory you have learnt in your law course. To conclude with this judgement, the judge took ₹ 50 crores and Mr. Mishra ₹ 20 crores. No doubt your evidence was strong, and it looked like a reasoned judgement based on merits and in your favour, but it is nothing for you and your team to rejoice about.”

  I said, “Whatever are you saying? I cannot believe this. We wanted that all the accused persons should get punishment, but still, for the time being, we are happy with the partial judgement.”

  To this Khurana said, “OK, let us not debate about whatever has happened today. Let us come to the point. Now, what are you and Suraj planning? Are you going to appeal against this judgement in the higher court as I feel you have got only partial justice, not full justice?”

  I replied, “That we have not yet discussed and decided.”

  Khurana said, “I suggest you appeal to the higher court as in my opinion you have strong evidence but lower court judge has ignored the same, and the other accused persons should also get punishment under Section 307 of the IPC.”

  I responded to this, “But why are you suggesting this to me? You are not supposed to do this as you are their lawyer and have to safeguard their interests, but on the contrary, you are provoking me to file an appeal in the higher court.”

  Khurana said, “Let me explain to you the g
ame plan in which both of us will win. Do you remember the sting operation CDs which were leaked in the media? Do you know who did that? Let me admit I did that. This was all part of the game. Please note that for me these crooks are hens that lay a golden egg every day. I am not a fool to cut the hen in one shot. We need to work as a team till the matter is resolved finally in the top court. If you or Suraj file an appeal in the higher court, then we both will earn our legal fees for not only the next few years but also income through many other ways.”

  I asked, “What are those other ways?” to which Mr. Khurana replied, “We will work as a team, and I will personally help you in getting strong evidence against the remaining four accused. You know very well that I have good connections and experience in doing so. Once this case reaches the higher court, then we will again fix the judgement, but this time the cost will be ₹ 100 crores which we will take from the three accused as they are wealthy and have plenty of black money to spend. Out of this ₹ 100 crores, we will give ₹ 50 crores to the higher court judge and the balance ₹ 50 crores we will distribute. Out of this, I can offer you ₹ 10 crores.”

  I was stunned and heard all this in silence.

  Khurana continued speaking, “the higher court judgement, which will again be a fixed judgement will not be in favour of these accused.”

  With a tricky smile on his face Khurana said, “Then as their trusted lawyer, I will suggest them to appeal to the top court. Apart from earning a high fee, I will ask for ₹ 250 crores from them to fix the top court judgement. Out of this ₹ 250 crores, I will manage the top court judges with ₹ 150 crores, as generally there is a bench of three judges so each will take ₹ 50 crores and again we will have ₹ 100 crores for distribution which we can take in a foreign bank account of a shell company in a tax heaven country.”

  Hearing these rates, I was flabbergasted and was not able to believe and utter anything.

  Khurana said, “This is a golden opportunity. These accused are very rich, and for them spending this much money is not a challenge as their combined net worth is over ₹ 2000 crores. To have a clean public image and to live a life without any criminal blot, they can spend any amount. The only thing is that there should be lawyers like me and you who can tap this golden opportunity.”

  He also said, “Lawyers like you have poor clients like Suraj who have no money, energy, time and determination to fight the case. That is why millions of cases are pending in courts.”

  I asked him, “Mr. Khurana, how much is your net worth?”

  He replied, “This information is confidential, but I am revealing it to you to inspire and motivate you to become rich and a celebrity lawyer like me. It’s over ₹ 500 crores, which I have earned in the last ten years since I have become one of the top ten senior lawyers of the country fighting criminal and corporate cases of big shots. But don’t disclose it to anyone.”

  Khurana continued saying, “If you choose to become my partner in this case, then very soon you will also earn good money. You are fortunate that you have a case against wealthy people which is a rare one-time golden opportunity to get in today’s cut-throat competitive legal world.”

  I asked him, “But to fight the case in the higher court and then in the top court, my client will need money, and at present, he is both penniless and jobless.”

  Khurana said, “You don’t worry about that. I will bear all the costs, will manage everything, will arrange all the evidence, and will create fake witnesses. I will support you during this legal battle. In the courtroom, we will fight like mad bulls, but outside the court, we will be partners in crime. Even Suraj will get handsome money out of this case.”

  I asked him, “What do you mean by saying that Suraj will also get money?”

  Khurana said, “Let’s work out a deal. I will give you both ₹ 10 crores each till the final judgement from the top court is pronounced.”

  I asked, “What will be the final judgement of the top court?”

  Khurana replied, “The top court judges will give judgement in favour of the accused persons except for Mr. Mishra who will be living abroad forever. And if required after putting all blame on him, he can be murdered there to close the case forever. I hope you understand, sending these accused to prison is not our objective. Our objective is to extract money from them. Once they are freed from any charges, then they will become our long-term clients. A successful top court judgement will give us publicity as my PR agency will telecast it in all leading paid news channels and newspapers and after that celebrities, rowdy film stars, corrupt politicians, mafia and the big corporate houses will approach us to fight their criminal cases. You see, twin benefits, money and fame at our doorstep.”

  Khurana said to me, “Gulshan, please keep this modus operandi private and confidential.”

  I asked, “But what should I say to Suraj so that he appeals to the higher court?”

  Khurana’s reply was, “Tell him that today’s judgement is a partial one and as we have strong evidence against the accused, we should appeal to the higher court to get punishment for the other accused.”

  I asked him, “I hope you know that as Suraj is a jobless person, he will surely ask about the cost to appeal including a legal fee to fight the case in higher courts.”

  Khurana replied, “You tell him that you will file a case not only for the attempt to murder under Section 307 of IPC but also for ₹ 10 crores compensation for mental trauma, loss of income and family suffering. Tell him that you will work on a success fee basis; that is, you will not charge anything and will take 50 percent of the final compensation amount. If no compensation is received, then you will not charge anything.”

  He further said, “See Gulshan, this is an excellent opportunity for you to become rich as well as a famous lawyer like me. Once you become my partner, I have good connections in the judiciary and with ruling party politicians; I will try to make you a senior lawyer so that you will also have access to High Profile High Networth (HPHN) clients like I have and then you can enjoy luxuries of life forever. The only thing you need to do is to convince Suraj to continue his legal battle against these accused, as that is the key, without which we cannot continue our journey to reach the higher court and then the top court. In a nutshell, you have to ensure that Suraj agrees to continue his fight against the other four accused. Only then will you get money, fame, and success.”

  I replied, “Mr. Khurana, thanks for your proposal. Let me sleep over it tonight, and I will revert to you.”

  Khurana said, “I will wait for your positive response. You have ninety days to file an appeal in the higher court. Goodbye, best of luck and best wishes!”

  Gulshan said, “Suraj, this is what Mr. Khurana proposed to me.”

  Suraj said, “I cannot believe it. This is beyond my imagination. These big senior lawyers act more like touts than protectors of the judiciary. This is the height of greed and materialistic approach.”

  Suraj continued saying, “What do you advise me as a friend? For you, it seems to be an excellent opportunity to earn money and to take a jump in your career to become a senior lawyer and later on maybe even become a judge.”

  Gulshan said, “Suraj, I don’t want to earn money following this dirty path. I am better off being a small lawyer. I don’t have money, but at least my soul is mine and not bought by others. These big senior lawyers don’t have any inner consciousness. Their souls are pledged to the rich and criminals having muscle and money power and who use them to play with the legal system. One fish spoils the whole pond, it is said. Maybe a lower court judge can do this, but that does not mean that the entire judiciary is corrupt. I still don’t believe Khurana; there is a possibility that he is extracting money from the criminals this way or some other way. These are the touts active in legal circles extorting funds from their rich clients by telling them that they have direct settings with the court judges. I have full faith in the top court and its judges as it is the only sacred and respectable institution which can protect jud
iciary, democracy, and the constitution. I salute this institution as its soldier. I suggest you should focus on your career and your social reform projects to clean the corrupt political, economic and social system.”

  Suraj stood up and hugged Gulshan warmly and said, “Gulshan, you are a true friend with values, virtues, morals, and sanskar – a sign of good inner consciousness. I appreciate you as a good gentleman. Now tell me, how will you handle Mr. Khurana?”

  Gulshan said, “You don’t worry about that; now I know how to handle such clever and cunning lawyers. I will manage.”

  50

  Mysteries to Be Resolved

  S uraj was at the ashram, and the security person told him that Sanjay’s father was waiting for him in the Peace Hall. He went to meet him. After initial greetings, Sanjay’s father informed him that of late Sanjay was under depression and had not been going to the office for the last few days. He was in constant fear that Suraj would appeal to the higher court to get him sentenced.

  Sanjay’s father with folded hands said, “Suraj, I beg you to please forgive him. I know he has done wrong to you. For the time being, the lower court may have acquitted him, but his bad karmas have started punishing him. Now the devil inside him is also trying to kill him and can force him to attempt suicide. I don’t want to lose him. He is our only hope in life and only earning member in the family. Not as his friend, but as a good human being, think about us and please forgive him.”

  Suraj said, “Uncle, I heard what you said. Right now I am focussing on searching for a job. I have not yet decided to appeal to the higher court. I will discuss with Guruji and my lawyer and update you. Meanwhile, please take care of him and take him to a good psychiatrist.”

  Once Sanjay’s father left the Peace Hall, Suraj called Col. Pandey and informed him about his meeting with Uncle. Knowing the chameleon character of Sanjay, he requested Col. Pandey to check the facts about Sanjay’s depression as there were chances that he was playing an emotional card using his father.