“That still does not constitute as evidence of corruption or any wrongdoing on his part,” argued Bishnoi.
“A constable from his own Police station that was part of the team that raided and busted Schönherr and who had met me at his farmhouse, when I had gone there the day before yesterday. He had come here an hour earlier and had informed me that he had seen Rohit Mirchandani, the buddy, and associate of Schönherr entering the house of our Inspector Joginder Singh with a bag yesterday afternoon, after the preliminary hearing in the court. In which the Judge had ruled that the outcome of Rudolf Schönherr’s identification parade would be the basis of his decision on the pleas for Police remand and his bail application. It was after this mysterious and unreported visit of Rohit that our Inspector Sa’ab decided to go to the village himself to bring the witness and his father to the Crime Branch office, stopping the A.S.I. from his station, who had prepared to go there, in light of the court’s directions.”
“My God! This is an open and shut case of bribery; we should have the S.H.O. Joginder Singh arrested for his shameful and illegal activities.”
“If our superiors will disallow any action to be taken against the constables; how do you expect them to let us arrest a S.H.O.? And even if he had taken a bribe from the accused and had helped in the destruction of evidence, we would still never be able to prove anything against him conclusively. He’s much too smart to keep the money received as a bribe at his house or any place where it can be found during a raid. We would have nailed him only if we had prior information and had laid a trap with the anti-corruption wing of the department and had caught him red-handed,” explained Inspector Thakur.
“But that constable-”
“He only saw Rohit enter the house of Inspector Singh, before he was scolded and shooed away,” Inspector Uday said interrupting him. “The constable had made it amply clear to me that under no condition would he testify or even repeat his statement before any other officer. And Inspector Joginder Singh for his part will deny that Rohit ever visited him, or if he had, any money had exchanged hands. I have realized that I cannot blame others for my own failure,” Uday said in a reflective mood.
“Does that mean that no action will be taken against Inspector Singh, and he’ll go scot-free after damaging our prospects in this case?” Bishnoi questioned him.
“I am going to the office of the D.C.P. Bhoopat, to apprise him of the progress in the case. I will let him know all the facts, which have come to my knowledge; let us see what comes out of it. To be very frank with you, I don’t believe that any action will be taken against Inspector Singh until we find the graft-money or one of the two constables on duty at the farmhouse gives us a statement implicating his superior – the chances, however, are slim for both possibilities.”
“Should we interrogate that friend of Schönherr?”
“It is certainly worth a try; summon him to the office and we’ll find out what has to answer to the charge of destruction of evidence.”
“If we can find out where he has hidden the body of the murdered child that was extracted from that make-shift grave-”
“If I have understood Rudolf Schönherr; he is much too smart for that kind of lapse,” said Inspector Thakur interrupting him, “he would have got all the evidence destroyed by now. Our only hope remains the laboratory report from Hyderabad; if we can match the blood samples of the labourer with those picked up from the scene of the crime, and we will be able to prove that his child was gothically sacrificed in the glass pyramid by Schönherr.” Saying that Inspector Thakur got up from his chair and putting his peak cap on his head and collecting the papers on his table and putting them back in the file, left the office to meet his superior.
It was a week since her rescue by the cops; Payal was back in the flat of her friend Shalini. Her mother had left for Shimla that very morning. Payal, despite all her efforts, had failed to convince her mother about Abhay. But she was adamant to continue her relationship with Abhay.
Payal saw Shalini enter the bedroom holding a tray with their breakfast. “How are you darling?” she asked cheerfully.
“Perfectly fine; ready to run in a marathon,” replied Payal.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Shalini said smiling as she sat down on the sofa, putting the tray on the glass table in front of her.
Payal got out of the bed; she went to the attached bathroom and came back after brushing her teeth. She sat down on the sofa beside Shalini and poured the hot tea into two cups. She sipped the steaming hot tea, Shalini, in the meanwhile had put some tomato sauce on Payal’s plate with the sandwich. Payal took a bite of it and sipping again the hot tea she said, “Now give me the papers.”
“Give you what?” Shalini asked with her mouth full of sandwich.
“The newspapers; I want to read all of them. You had your way for the entire week; I won’t listen to any of your excuses now,” said Payal in an adamant manner.
“It was only for your own good; I didn’t want you to trouble your mind with all that. You had been through a traumatic experience which had taxed your nerves to no end,” she offered an explanation.
“Anyhow, I have recovered from it. So, where are the papers?”
“I’ll get them for you; I have saved all of them. I knew that you would like to read them,” Shalini said getting up from the sofa. She stood unresolved for a moment and said, “I think that I should tell this myself, you won’t risk a sudden shock.”
“Shock from what? Why are you talking in riddles? What possibly shocking could be in those papers?” Asked Payal.
“That Rudolf Schönherr, the man who had abducted you,” said Shalini hesitatingly.
“Well? What about him?” Payal asked raising her eyebrows inquisitively.
“He has been released from Police custody, and as of now he’s out on bail.”
“Are you telling me that the Warlock is moving around scot-free in this city! After all that he has done; goddamn it! I told that cop everything about Rudolf and his vicious deeds; how on earth they could possibly let him off?”
“I think you better find it out for yourself; I’ll bring those papers. By the way, you sure you are all right,” Shalini said looking at Payal’s face with grave concern.
“I’m fine; don’t be unduly worried. I’m just surprised by this,” Payal explained patiently.
Nodding her head in understanding, Shalini went out of the room and brought back the heap of the newspapers of the preceding week. Payal almost snatched them from Shalini’s hand and opened the first newspaper of the morning succeeding her rescue and Rudolf Schönherr’s arrest. Putting the newspaper on the bed, she ate the sandwich and sipped tea from her cup.
“I’ll go and get a bath, “Shalini said.
But Payal was too much engrossed in the newspaper to hear what her friend said and could not notice Shalini’s going to the attached bathroom. The newspapers headlines announced it all:
‘Famous Bollywood Choreographer Rudolf Schönherr arrested for the abduction of an actress.’
Accompanying the newspaper report that ended on an inside page was the headline; ‘Rudolf Schönherr’s is a victim of frame-up- Lawyer.’
‘Rudolf Schönherr sent into judicial custody’.
‘Schönherr granted bail by the Court.’
’Is Rudolf Schönherr a Tantrik?’ That was the headline on an inside page of the paper on the succeeding day. It was an abridged version of Payal’s own statement to the Police. The writer of that article had raised questions on Payal’s own integrity and character and had described her statement to the Police as a vile attempt at the character assassination of a reputed artist.
In her frustration, Payal picked up the cordless phone and dialed the number of Inspector Uday Thakur of Crime branch.
“Yes?” she heard a heavy male voice from the other end after a short while.
“Inspector Thakur?”
“Speaking,” said the heavy male voice.
“Hello Sir, this is m
e; Payal Chatterjee.”
“Oh! Ms. Chatterjee; how are you?”
“I am fine, thanks for asking. But that’s not why I have called you for; how is it Inspector that Rudolf Schönherr is moving around scot-free, even after all that he has done? My god! After all that I told you, you people ought to have sent him to Tihar Jail.”
“Believe me Miss Chatterjee; nothing would have pleased me more. But I am afraid things didn’t work out the way we had thought; our eyewitness wasn’t able to pick out Rudolf Schönherr in an identification parade, nor were we able to find the body of the sacrificed child and therefore the honourable Judge Saa’b granted him bail. But you do not worry; I am waiting for the laboratory report, regarding the bloodstains that our forensic experts picked up from the altar and idol in the glass pyramid and his sacrificial robe, which will come from Hyderabad. On the basis of the report, the public prosecutor can file a fresh application for the cancellation of Schönherr’s bail.”
“Do you or the court think that I have lied like it has been written in newspapers?”
“Don’t get agitated Ms. Payal,” he said in a softened manner. “Your anguish against a certain section of Press may be justified, but there is little one can do about it. It’s a free country and we have a free Press.”
“But there must be some limit to it; they only stopped short of saying that I was a slut!”
“If you take my advice, you better get used to this Ms. Chatterjee. When this case goes to a trial, media and Schönherr’s lawyer would come after you and give you a hard time. They are trying to destroy your reputation and credibility as a witness before the court, leaving no stones unturned at that But don’t lose heart; we are doing everything possible to get him punished. And after getting a favourable laboratory report, the public prosecutor will move the court to get Schönherr’s bail cancelled. You leave it all for us and just look after yourself. Good day,” he said and disconnected.
Payal also put down the phone; however, she remained unconvinced by the Inspector’s explanation and sceptical of his ability to prove Rudolf Schönherr’s guilt in the court. It was Shalini, who came to rescue her for her bad mood, with her friendly conversation and succeeded in distracting her.
CHAPTER 11: THE OLD SOLDIER
On a Sunday two months later, Payal was sitting in the drawing room of Shalini’s flat with Abhay Batra. After a few weeks of going steady, Abhay had proposed and she had accepted, much to his surprise and delight. They were accordingly making plans for getting married soon and both were excited and hopeful with that auspicious event in their lives, which would make them happy. Payal was determined to go ahead with that wedding, despite her mother’s strong reservation; her father had come to Delhi and had approved her choice for Abhay.
What had contributed to her decision was that despite doing the rounds of many television studios and producer’s offices and appearing for numerous auditions and screen tests, she had not succeeded in finding any acting assignment. In fact, some people had told her bluntly, that their company or channel did not wish to be associated with an infamous actress who alleged abduction or sexual harassment charge on those who crossed her. It made Payal realize the stigma attached to a woman in her situation, a person who had dared to speak out about the exploitation of women in the glamour industry.
Infuriated with Rudolf Schönherr’s lawyer blatant character assassination of her in the media; Payal had held an impromptu press conference in the compound of the court-house, where she had gone to attend a preliminary hearing of the ‘Schönherr case’. In the course of answering the pointed queries of the journalists, she had lashed out at her detractors and had rather immaturely and unjustifiably portrayed the entire show business as full of leeches and vultures, which had destroyed without shame or remorse, the lives of uncountable small town and needy girls like her, who did had any godfather or connections.
Her outburst had rallied the entire industry behind Rudolf Schönherr and support for him had come in from all quarters. With many prominent producers and ‘A’ grade movie and television actors expressing solidarity with him. On the other hand, Payal had become a pariah that no one except her tiny circle of friends and acquaintances wanted to be associated with. And if that was not bad enough, she had received many proposals to act in ‘C’ grade, low budget, soft porn movies; the producers were hoping to cash in on her newfound celebrity status and the interest generated by the wide media coverage of her allegations and proceedings in the Court.
Despite the arguments by Rudolf Schönherr’s lawyer at the last hearing of the Schönherr-case, Judge Makhija had decided that the case would go to a full-fledged trial. The trial was scheduled to begin in April and the Judge had decided in favour of continuing with Rudolf Schönherr’s bail throughout that period as per his lawyer’s request.
“All right, I will go and meet a lawyer,” Abhay said, “but you have to be sure that you want to get married in the marriage registrar’s office?”
“Positively, I don’t like the unnecessary display of wealth in pomp and show of a wedding, which makes me sick. Besides we have only a few friends to accompany us. I wish for a simple ceremony, later we could host a dinner in a good restaurant,” she said.
“You have left to mention family; my parents may be dead but yours certainly would join us, won’t they?”
“Maybe Dad, I am not sure about mom,” Payal answered. “My hunch, however, is that she would come, maybe not in the best of moods, but she will come nevertheless.”
“Have you called them; your parents I mean?”
“They know about my decision and as soon as the date is fixed, I will call them and inform them about it.”
Just the phone bell rang; Payal picked up the cordless phone and asked, “Yes?”
“I want to talk to Ms. Payal Chatterjee,” said an unknown male voice.
“I’m Payal.”
“Please hold the line; someone wants to talk to you,” the voice said.
After a brief pause another male voice came in through the receiver; it had a certain authority in it, she could not help noticing. “Hello, Payal? You don’t know me; my name is B.D. Narang. I was a very good friend of your uncle Som Biswas in Calcutta (Kolkatta).”
“But uncle Somu-”
“Yes I know,” he said interrupting Payal, “Somu had died six years ago. But that does not mean that I have forgotten him.”
Som Biswas was the name of the maternal uncle of Payal, who lived in Kolkatta and was an officer in the Defence ministry.
“Were you in the same office as my uncle?” she asked respectfully.
“No, I was a Colonel in the infantry division of the Indian Army; and in those days when I was posted in Calcutta, I became a very good friend of your uncle Somu. Even after I moved away we retained and continued our friendship. I recall you only as a five-year-old girl, who came to her maternal uncle’s house in her summer vacations,” the voice said.
“I’m really sorry sir, but I don’t remember it.”
“Doesn’t surprise me; you were only a little girl back; anyway it is not for that I have called you today. I only recently found about you and Rudolf Schönherr; I don’t quite read papers, but the news magazine INDIA TODAY that I read regularly had a brief mention of your case,” he said.
“I’m hearing sir,” she said respectfully.
“I want to help you; you can’t fight this battle alone, you need the help of a person like me.”
“I sincerely thank you for your concern and most generous offer of your help, but-”
“Don’t get formal with me girl,” he rebuffed Payal, “Somu was like a brother to me and his niece is my niece as well. You are like a daughter to me; I cannot sit on the fence and be a mute spectator. I want to meet you and talk to you; but my health does not allow me to travel, so you will have to come down here at my flat.”
“Really sir, I assure you that it is not necessary.”
“Don’t be unnecessarily suspicious or fearful my
child, I only want to help you. Just come here and meet me once, don’t disappoint an old man who wants only to help you.”
“Where do you live sir?” Payal asked.
“In Dilshad Garden; I know it’s the edge of the city but I cannot help it, if my health would have allowed it, I would have come myself to your place instead.”
“Please give me the complete address Colonel Narang...Yes, yes, all right, I have noted it down. But one thing, can I bring along my fiancé? Yes, thank you,” Payal said and put down the phone.
“Who is Colonel Narang?” Abhay who had been patiently sitting during the entire conversation asked.
“I don’t know; he says he was a friend of my late uncle Shomu, although I can’t remember it.
“You intend to go there?”
“Yes, if he really is a friend of an uncle, I owe him that courtesy at least.”
“But you know nothing about this man.”
“Yes, that is why I said that my fiancé would be coming along with me,” Payal said looking at Abhay with fondness.
His face lit up when she looked at him in that manner. “When do you want to go?” He enquired.
“Right now; if that’s all right with you, you know this place Dilshad Garden?” She asked reading from the notepad.”
“Yes, I went there once for a colleague’s wedding. It’s on the other end of the city, a long way from here of course, but that doesn’t matter.”
“we better leave now, its almost noon. We also have to come all the way back here. I will just go and check on Shalini; lazybones is still sleeping. You wait a minute, I will tell her where I am going and also pick up my handbag.”
Payal came back from the bedroom with her handbag and locking the door of the flat behind her, walked towards the elevator with Abhay. They went to his Ford Endeavour parked in the front compound of the building and were soon off to East Delhi to meet the mysterious Colonel Narang.
Warlock Page 14