Story: The New CID Team (Posts 2 to 5)

The Commissioner said, "ACP Pradyuman main CID ko badlonga aur usme uske bahut se pehle ke officers jinhe transfers mil gaye the unhe wapas laonga."

What happens when CID grows suddenly and becomes something completely different?

The Commissioner said, "Aaj se main CID ko char main baant raha hoon."

How will the CID team cope with 4 separate cases?

Sachin said, "Agar inke suspicions sahi hain toh phir ek gang hai jo bachon ko kidnap kar raha hai."

Rajat called down to Abhijeet and Daya, "Sir yahan se woh beam gira hai!"

Aditi read, "...isse report likhwane ke badle paise maange aur jab Dipti ne mana kar diya toh usse arrest kiya aur bahut dino tak torture kiya aur harass kiya."

Viren said, "Yeh pehle karte hain. Yeh ek politician hai. Isse undar kar denge toh yahan ke kafi cases aapne aap solve ho jayenge."

How will they deal with the added cops and forensic doctors and the divide? Will the divide cause tensions or bring the cops closer together?

Stay tuned for the upcoming story: The New CID Team. Airing in this thread on 5th March.

(If you would like a PM once I post the story please do let me know by either liking the post below or posting here or PMing me.)

While I was watching an American TV show (CSI: Las Vegas and CSI: NY for the curious), a thought crossed my mind that I share with you here. This thought eventually led to the inception of this story.

If I had to make my own CID team or "army" from all the officers and forensic doctors that have ever come in CID, then who would I choose?

And you know what? As soon as this thought crossed my mind, the answer swiftly popped into my head. What is the answer you may ask. Well it's as follows, in no particular order and with explanations where I feel they were needed.

DCP Chitrole - I can't imagine CID without this funny boss no matter how annoying he is.

ACP Pradyuman

Abhijeet

Daya

Freddy

Sachin

Rajat

Vivek

Vineet

Viren

Sudhakar

Asha

Purvi

Tasha

Kajal

Priyanka

Anushka

Aditi

Pankaj - I feel he's a good detective with a comic streak. We need that in CID, but not through Freddy. And even his comic streak needs to stop being overdone. A little comedy is good, but FW overdoes it.

Dushayant - I feel he was a good detective and I was always open to the idea of 1 or 2 entries. My mind soured when it came to 10 entries. But still I was pleased with his entry.

Kavin - I feel he was a good detective and I was always open to the idea of 1 or 2 entries. My mind soured when it came to 10 entries. But still I was pleased with his entry.

Lavanya - I always appreciated Lavanya more as the tough cop.

Dr. Niyati Pradhan

Dr. R. P. Salunkhe

Dr. Anjalika Deshmukh

Dr. Nyla Rajyadhaksa

Why did I do this? You'll find out why when you read the story. 😉

One point: This is my personal list. No offense meant to anyone with the addition of a cop or without the addition of a cop.

One request. When you finish reading the story, please do tell me what you thought of this concept. I just want to know.

The New CID Team

Disclaimer: This concept is purely and absolutely mine. It takes very little inspiration from CSI, an American TV series, in that the concept popped into my brain while watching an old episode of the show. I now trademark, copyright, and patent this concept. If people like this concept and would like to take inspiration from it, please do, but do give me credit as required. Else an army of lawyers and the CID officers themselves will show up at your doorstep. Thank you.

Commissioner's office, Wednesday, 11AM

The Commissioner stood up and started pacing the conference room. He said, "Hume kuch toh karna parega! Jab se Defense Minister ne yeh announce kiya hai ke CBI main woh 25% officers ko lay off kar rahe hain, sadak pe dange mach gaye hain! Hume logon ke beech wapas shaanti laani hai!"

ACP Ajaatshatru said, "Sir agar main ek suggestion doon?"

The Commissioner nodded his consent. ACP Ajaatshatru continued, "Sir mera suggestion yeh hai ke aap kisi aur police team main naaye officers introduce kar do."

DCP Chitrole objected, "Sir isse main decision Defense Minister ka kharab ho jayega. Unhone aisa isli kiya kyun ki unhe laga ke police officers zada hain. Agar hum wapas kisi aur team ko bhada dete hain toh phir wohi phir ho jayega."

ACP Pradyuman interrupted, "Sir agar main kuch kahoon?"

"Haan bolo Pradyuman," the Commissioner gave his consent.

"Sir Defense Minister ne aisa isli kiya kyun ki unhe yeh lagta hai ke CBI main corruption bhadne lag gaya hai naa ki officers zada hain. Agar aap unki list thik se paare toh aap ko pata chalega ke jinhe logon ko woh lay-off karna chahte hain woh log saare wohi hain jinhe ke khilaaf koi case hai," ACP Pradyuman said, directed at DCP Chitrole's comment.

"Unki wajah jo bhi ho mujhe Ajaatshatru ka idea sahi lag raha hai. Kisi team ko hum revamp karenge aur woh bhi abhi," the Commissioner said.

He looked around at the DCPs and ACPs sitting in the conference room. He kept looking around thinking.

His eyes stopped at ACP Ajaatshatru. He thought that Ajaatshatru was a strong ACP and had led his team of CID Special Bureau well. But Special Bureau was known for solving cold cases. He couldn't increase that.

His eyes wandered over to ACP Ajay Desai from Special Squad. Special Squad used to be a high-standard team, but since Aryan died, the team hadn't ever had the same drive to solve cases though they had a 90% solving rate. No he couldn't burden the Special Squad team yet. They were still grieving. Any other day and he wouldn't have hesitated to give them the new revamp, but not right now.

ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte was next in line. No can do. This guy was supposedly mental when it came to solving cases. Also he had a rude behaviour towards his team. That's why so many newbies left ETF so fast. He wondered how the team members who were with Arjun for so long handled his behaviour. But then apparently there was some story behind his behaviour. He guessed you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. And plus he had lost a lot in his life. It did change a man a lot.

ACP Manoviraj Singh was sitting proud and tall. STF, the team that was now their behind-the-scenes team. Originally it used to solve highly sensitive cases, but after Manoviraj's brother's death, the Commissioner had moved them to become a private undercover team that quietly checked police stations and teams to see if they were all good officers. No can do here either.

Then his eyes stopped at ACP Pradyuman. With Special Squad if there was another team he could expand it was CID. He made his decision at that very moment. "ACP Pradyuman main CID ko badlonga aur usme uske bahut se pehle ke officers jinhe transfers mil gaye the unhe wapas laonga. Mujhe do din do. Aur abhi kisi se kuch nahi kehna hai. Main saari team ko khud bataonga."

*****

Commissioner's office, Friday, 12PM

The CID team was sitting in the conference room waiting for the Commissioner to join them. ACP Pradyuman, Abhijeet, Daya, Freddy, Purvi, Sachin, Vivek, and Dr. Salunkhe were all sitting there. The Commissioner came in. He said, "Welcome CID team. Aaj maine aap sab ko yahan isli bulaya hai kyun ki main ek bahut important change karne wala hoon CID main."

The team exchanged worried glances. Then they looked back at the Commissioner as he continued, "Aaj se main CID ko char main baant raha hoon. Daariye nahi. Aap sab abhi bhi CID main hi rahenge. Bas kuch important changes aa jayenge. Sab se pehle forensic department main ab ek nahi balki char forensic doctors honge. Dr. Salunkhe, aap ke saath yeh teen ladies bhi kam karengi."

The Commissioner pointed towards the door on saying that. 3 ladies walked in. Dr. Salunkhe smiled on seeing his colleagues and stood up to shake hands with Dr. Niyati, Dr. Anjalika, and Dr. Nyla. The team looked towards each other. The 4 sat down and the team looked forward again. If 3 forensic doctors had been added to their team that meant something big was happening. The Commissioner continued, "Aaj se CID main char teams yah departments honge. Pehla hoga Homicide jisme aaj se Daya, Abhijeet, Fredericks, Priyanka, aur ek naye officer, Rajat honge."

At this Priyanka and Rajat entered the room as Abhijeet, Daya, and Freddy got up and moved around after shaking hands. The Commissioner continued, "Phir hoga Child and Women Crimes yah CWC aur taki auraton ko zada takleef naa ho isme zada females honge. Yeh team hoga Sachin, Purvi, Asha, Tasha, aur Vineet."

Sachin and Purvi shook hands as Abhijeet, Daya, and Freddy smiled on the return of Asha, Tasha, and Vineet. 3 strong officers were back! The Commissioner continued as the 5 settled down, "Third team hoga Anti-Corruption team. Iss team main honge Viren, Sudhakar, Kajal, Lavanya, aur ek naya officer, Kavin."

The 5 came in and settled in as everyone welcomed them with smiles. Some more great officers were back. The Commissioner continued, "Aur end main hai Special Investigations Unit yah SIU. Yeh team police cases ko investigate karega. Yani woh cases jinhe main koi police officer involved hai. Aur iss team main honge Vivek, Anushka, Aditi, aur do naye officers, Pankaj aur Dushayant."

The 4 officers named entered and settled down beside Vivek. Now there were 20 officers and 4 forensic doctors as well as ACP Pradyuman. The Commissioner looked around approvingly and then said, "Ab main batata hoon ke yeh kyun huya hai. Yeh isli huya hai kyun ki pichle kuch dino main Defense Minister ne CBI main kafi cuts kiye hain. Aur jaise sab ko pata hai public kafi pareshan ho gayi hai iss baat pe. Isli humne socha ke unhe yeh dilasa dilane ke liye ke woh protected hain hum koi aur police team ko bara kar denge. Maine CID ko iss kam ke liye liya hai. Aaj se aur abhi se yeh hai nayi CID team. Bahut jald aap logon ke paas cases bhi aane lag jayenge. Yaad rakhna ke sirf isli ke maine aapko 4 teams main baant diya hai iska matlab yeh nahi hai ke aap log alag kam kare. Jab zaroorat ho toh aap log saath main kam kar sakte hain yah koi officer idhar se udhar bhi kam kar sakta hai. Thank you."

The Commissioner nodded at everyone. The team took it to mean that it was time to leave. They got up, saluted the Commissioner, and left.

*****

CID bureau, Friday, 6PM

Due to the expansion of the team, the bureau had been expanded to cover 2 floors of the building as well. Given that the top floor of the building had been empty it hadn't been that hard. Apparently the Commissioner had been ready and when the team had gone to the meeting workers had come in and set up the furniture and the technology. Who said the government moved slowly?

The Homicide and SIU teams would be upstairs, while the CWC and Anti-Corruption teams and ACP Pradyuman's cabin would remain downstairs. The remaining building was as usual. The basement was the forensics, the main floor was more like a reception area with waiting rooms, then the second floor housed their interrogation rooms, followed by waiting jail cells on the third floor, then the fourth and fifth floors were home to the team.

Daya and Abhijeet were sitting upstairs still getting used to the large team. Daya said, "Boss Commissioner sir ne toh sidha patka phod diya aaj."

"Bomb bolo Daya, bomb. Hum pehle 7 officers aur ek forensic doctor the. Ab hum 21 officers hain aur 4 forensic doctors. Yeh toh unhone hume sidha triple kar diya ek hi jhatke main," Abhijeet replied, shaking his head smiling.

"Lekin main khush hoon yaar. Itne saare top officers aaye hain wapas ke bas," Daya said.

Freddy came in at this time as well. "Sir main aa jaon?"

"Haan aao aao Freddy. Abhi tumhari hi baat ho rahi thi," Daya said, winking at Abhijeet.

Abhijeet nodded understandingly. They liked pulling Freddy's leg. And they were going to do it now. Freddy asked, "Kya baat kar rahe the sir?"

"Bas yehi baat kar rahe the ke tumhe toh Commissioner sir ne hamare saath hi dal diya. Ab hum phas gaye. Humne toh socha tha ke naye teams honge toh tumse peecha chutega," Daya said, hiding a laugh as he hung his head pretending to be dejected.

Freddy puffed up in anger, "Kya matlab sir?!! Aap ko mere se peecha chutana tha?!!"

"Haan Freddy. Ab kab tak hum tumhari wife ki baatein sunte rehte. Nahi hume change chahiye. Isli humne socha tha ke Commissioner sir hume koi aur team denge, lekin hume toh tum hi mil gaye," Abhijeet agreed, looking regretful at the same time as innocent.

Daya looked away to avoid laughing. Abhijeet had said that with such a face that it was hard not to laugh. Freddy got angry. "Main jaa raha hoon."

He got up and started to leave as Daya burst out laughing. Abhijeet had made such an innocent face as Freddy was leaving that Daya had been unable to stop himself. Abhijeet joined in at this time. He had held his laughter for too long. Freddy understood that the 2 had been teasing him and joined in on the laughter.

*****

Child and Women Crimes, CID bureau, Monday, 1PM

It seemed that the Commissioner was right. The cases were starting to come in and how! Every police station had at least one case that they wanted solved and that the Commissioner had told them to hand over to CID. Now all 4 CID teams had at least 5 cases each.

Asha flipped through the case file the CWC team had received from the Andheri police station. This was something serious. She turned to Sachin and said, "Yeh dekho Sachin. Yeh kuch zada hi serious hai."

Sachin took the file from Asha putting his own file down. As he read the case he nodded his agreement. "Ma'am yeh toh ek bahut bara case hai. Agar inke suspicions sahi hain toh phir ek gang hai jo bachon ko kidnap kar raha hai. Lekin kyun?"

"Sir mujhe toh lagta hai ke yeh zaroor yah toh inhe bachon se kam karwate hain yah bheek mangwate hain," Purvi put in. She had been listening to the conversation especially when Asha said it seriously.

"Jo bhi hai. Yeh hamara pehla case hoga. Pehle inhe dus bachon ko dhoond kar wapas lana hai phir aur kisi case ko dekhenge," Asha said.

Sachin and Purvi nodded their agreement as Tasha and Vineet came in with 2 more case files.

*****

Homicide, CID bureau, 2PM

Abhijeet picked up the phone as it rang again, "Hello, CID bureau."

"Ji kya yeh Homicide team hai?" a man asked.

"Haan hai. Aap kaun hain?"

"Main Inspector Raj hoon. Sir hamare paas ek case aaya tha jo media pressure ki wajah se Commissioner sir ne kaha hai aap ko dene ke liye. Kya aap aa sakte hain?"

"Haan kahan aana hai?"

*****

Homicide, Construction building, 2:30PM

Abhijeet and Daya picked their way through the rubble to the crime scene. Freddy and Priyanka were talking to the workers, while Rajat was setting up a perimeter to keep the media away from the scene. The two reached the scene and shook hands with the officer standing there who introduced himself as Inspector Raj. He said, "Sir yeh 2 laashein ek construction worker ko mili thi jab aaj subah woh kam pe aaya. Hume bulaya gaya aur humne investigation shuru hi kiya tha jab kisi worker ne yeh baat leak kar di press ko ke ek kamzor beam ki wajah se do auraton ki maut ho gayi hai."

"Aap ko aisa kyun lagta hai ke kisi worker ne yeh leak kiya hai?" Daya asked.

"Sir humne check karwaya. Sab se pehle yahan pe ek Aaj Tak ki team paunchi. Toh humne ek warrant niklawaya, unse number liya aur check karwaya. Woh number yahan pe hai. Ab yahan pe yah toh meri team hai yah workers hain. Mujhe workers pe shaq hai," Inspector Raj replied.

"Jab number tha toh usse pata kyun nahi kiya ke kis ka number hai?" Abhijeet asked.

"Sir sach kahoon toh main aapne kisi officer ko woh number nahi dena chahta hoon. Ho sakta hai ke woh mera team wala hi ho. Koi private number se kiya hoga phone. Aur mujhe pata nahi tha ke aap jana chahta hain yah nahi isli main uss number ko dial bhi nahi kiya," Inspector Raj replied.

Daya pulled out his phone. "Number do."

Inspector Raj recited the number and Daya dialled it. Abhijeet called Freddy and explained what they were doing. Then he nodded to Daya who called the number. The number rang 4 times before Freddy answered, "Sir mil gaya. Main usse aap ke paas le kar aa rahi hoon."

Freddy hung up and Daya said, "Freddy la raha hai usse."

Freddy came over with a man. The man asked, "Kya hua sir? Mere phone pe aise phone kyun kiya aur phir aap mujhe yahan kyun laaye ho?"

"Aaj Tak ko phone kyun kiya?" Abhijeet asked.

"Ji...ji?" the man said, surprised.

"Haan. Kyun kiya?" Daya demanded.

"Ji woh maine socha ke yahan ki thodi si publicity ho jayegi. Bas isli," the man stammered out.

Abhijeet and Daya shook their heads at each other as Freddy took the man away again. They would deal with him later, but right now they had to get to the bodies.

*****

Child and Women Crimes, Andheri police station, 2:45PM

While the Homicide team was at the scene of a crime, the CWC team was at the Andheri police station. Asha asked, "Yeh case aap logon ke saamne aaya kaise?"

"Ma'am yeh case takreebein do mahine pehle aaya hamare paas. Pehle teen bachon ki report yahani likhwayi gayi. Jab hume ek aur bache ki report mili tab hume pata chala ke saare bache ek hi region se nikle hain. Bas isli humne isse ek case bana diya. Ab tak bees bache gayab ho gaye hain," Inspector Adil said.

"Kuch kabhi pata chala inhe bachon ke baare main?" Sachin asked.

"Ji. Kareeb do hafte pehle hume information mili ke kuch bache kuch signals pe dikhe hain yahani Andheri main. Humne chakkar lagya toh sach main kuch bache wahan bheek maang rahe the aur cheezein bech rahe the. Lekin hum zada undar tak jaa nahi paaye aur shayad kisi ko pata chal gaya aur isli woh bache gayab ho gaye," Inspector Adil replied.

"Acha yeh dikhao ke kaunse signals pe tumhe yeh bache dikhe," Asha said.

Inspector Adil went with the CWC team to show them where they had seen the children.

*****

Child and Women Crimes, At a traffic light, 3:10PM

Inspector Adil said, "Yeh ek traffic light hai jahan pe inhe dus gayab bachon main se do dikhe the. Ek hand-made khilone bech rahi thi aur doosra bhek maang raha tha."

"Kya aapne kuch aur dekha tha?" Sachin asked.

"Sir maine yeh baat pehle nahi kahiye lekin ab kehta hoon. Uss ladke ka haat kata huya tha. Elbow se neeche. Gayab ho gaya tha uska haat," Inspector Adil replied.

"Aur ladki?" Purvi asked, in concern.

"Nahi ma'am. Uske saath aisa kuch nahi huya tha," Inspector Adil replied.

"Matlab ke jinhone bhi inhe bachon ko kidnap kiya hai usne inhe kam pe laga diya hai. Aur jo bache bheek maang rahe hain shayad taki unhe zada paise mile unke haat per kaate jaa rahe hain," Asha mused.

"Ma'am hum inhe dhoondenge kaise?" Purvi asked.

"Purvi yeh iss traffic signal aur area main nahi hain. Iska yeh matlab toh nahi hai ke yeh kahin nahi hain. Inhe jisne kidnap kiya hai usne inhe kahin toh bheja hoga," Sachin said.

"Lekin unhe Mumbai se kidnap karke Mumbai main kyun rakha?" Vineet said, speaking for the first time.

"Vineet yeh sab gareeb gharon se aaye hain. Shayad inhe kidnap karne ke baad kidnappers ne socha hoga ke inke baare main koi kabhi nahi poochega isli yahani rakha," Tasha mused, also speaking for the first time.

"Chalo yeh maan kar chalte hain ke yeh bache abhi bhi Mumbai main hain. Pehel jao aur har signal dekho inhe bachon ke liye. Yeh kahin toh milenge," Asha said.

*****

Homicide, Construction building, 3:30PM

The bodies were removed and now the 5 officers were carefully examining the area and building. Rajat called down from the third floor, "Sir yahan se woh beam gira hai!"

Abhijeet and Daya looked up. Abhijeet called up, "Khud gira beam yah usse jaan booj ke giraya gaya?"

"Abhi kuch pata nahi chal raha hai sir. Main doosri taraf jaa kar dekhta hoon," Rajat called down.

Daya said, "Boss yeh dekho. Yeh beam kuch zada hi cleanly gira hai."

The two bodies of the females had been found underneath a beam and it had originally been assumed by the police team that the beam falling was an accident. But they were going to check to confirm. Only then would they rule this as an accident. Even if it was an accident the question remained to be resolved as to why these women had been in a construction site and who they were.

Abhijeet looked at the beam. He commented, "Yeh toh aise lag raha hai jaise kisi ne iss ek saw se kaata hai idhar udhar se aur phir baki ka kam aapne aap ho gaya."

Rajat called down again, "Sir yahan pe cut marks hain. Aise lagta hai ke kisi ne ispe ek electric saw chalaya hai. Yeh beam aapne aap nahi gira hai."

*****

Special Investigations Unit, CID bureau, 3:40PM

After sorting all the complaints that the Commissioner had transferred over to them, the team was now beginning to examine them from the oldest to the newest. It seemed that CBI hadn't been doing their work properly. The oldest complaint was over 5 months old. Vivek read the gist of the complaint aloud after going through it, "Yeh complaint ek Mr. Mehra ka hai. Unka kehna hai ke Sub-Inspector Raj, Warsowa Police Station se, ne unke saath badtameezi ki jab woh aapne bete ko bail dilwane aaye drugs ke charges se. Unhone harassment ka case file kiya hai."

"Aur Sub-Inspector Raj ka kya kehna hai?" Anushka asked.

"Ke yeh galat hai aur jis din Mr. Mehra aapne bete ko churane aaye the woh police station main the hi nahi. Unhone dus din ki chutthi maangi thi aur woh ussi din shuru huyi thi jis din Mr. Mehra ne allege kiya hai ke unhe harass kiya gaya," Vivek replied.

"Yeh toh abhi pata chal jayega," Dushayant said.

Dushayant picked up the bureau landline and called the central HR department for the police department. After being put on hold for 5 minutes, Dushayant finally got through to someone. He said, "Dekhiye main CID Special Investigation Units se call kar raha hoon. Hume ek police officer ke baare main kuch information chahiye thi...Haan hume Sub-Inspector Raj, Warsowa Police Station se, ke baare main kuch information chahiye thi...Police station number hai 110...Ji hum bas yeh jaana chahte hain ke kya Sub-Inspector Raj ne pichle ek saal main koi chutthi li hai?...Li hai. Kab?...Acha. Acha thik hai. Thank you."

Dushayant hung up and checked the report carefully. He said, "Inspector Raj sach bol rahe hain. Unhone kuch nahi kiya hai. Yeh Mr. Mehra jhoot bol rahe hain."

"Yeh toh asaani se ho gaya sir. Ab yeh doosra case hai," Pankaj said.

"Ek minute Pankaj. Pehle iss Mr. Mehra se nipatna hai. Unhe arrest karo perjury aur false report likhwane ke jurm main. Ab unke bete ke saath saath unhe par bhi case chalega," Dushayant said.

"Thik hai sir," Pankaj agreed, leaving to do just that.

Aditi took the file that Pankaj had been looking through and flipped through it. She said, "Sir yeh case kafi baara lag raha hai."

"Kya hai?" Dushayant asked.

Aditi handed him the file and he skimmed through it. "Yeh ek Dipti Sharma hai jisne yeh ilzaam lagaya hai ke Thane Police Station ke Inspector Anil Naik ne isse report likhwane ke badle paise maange aur jab Dipti ne mana kar diya toh usse arrest kiya aur bahut dino tak torture kiya aur harass kiya."

"Sir yeh char mahine purana case hai. Aur abhi tak ispe koi action nahi liya gaya hai," Aditi added.

"Chalo iss Dipti se milte hain," Dushayant said.

*****

Child and Women Crimes, At another traffic signal, 4:40PM

Tasha looked around carefully, but didn't see any children. That said it didn't mean that the children would be here all the time. They would have to get informers on this case as well to start keeping an eye on as many traffic signals as possible or to find out through their sources where these children were. She was waiting for an informer exactly for that reason.

At that exact moment a man on a bike stopped beside her and said loudly, "Time kya huya hai?"

Tasha looked him up and down and replied, "4:40." Then she lowered her voice and asked, "Ek kam karoge?"

"Bachon ke baare mein main aapko bata doonga jaise hi kuch pata chalega," the man replied, in a low voice.

"Tumhe kaise pata hai ke main kya kehne wali thi?" Tasha asked.

"Madam aap log abhi tak ek informer ka power nahi jaante hain. Aapne mujhe phone kiya tabhi main samjh gaya tha ke kuch baari baat hai. Bas thodi si investigation ki aur sab kuch pata lag gaya mujhe," the man replied proudly.

"Thik hai. Thik hai. Tab toh tumhe yeh bhi pata hoga ke hume yeh information jald se jaldi chahiye," Tasha said.

"Aapko main jald se jald sab kuch bata doonga. Paise milenge naa?" the man asked.

"Milenge. Lekin agar information achi hogi toh," Tasha replied. "Ab jao."

The man cycled off again. Tasha looked around again and left.

*****

Homicide, Forensic lab, 5:40PM

Dr. Salunkhe looked the bodies up and down again. Then he said, "Daya, Abhijeet, yeh dono auraton pe woh beam giri aur isli yeh maare."

"Dr. Salunkhe yeh toh hum samjh gaye. Hum yeh jaana chahte the ke kuch aur pata chala?" Abhijeet asked.

"Abhijeet yeh laashein mere paas aaye huye do ghante bhi nahi huye hain. Tum kya chahte ho mujhse?" Dr. Salunkhe returned.

"Lekin inhe do ghanton main bhi kuch toh pata chala hoga," Daya objected.

"Nahi pata chala hai. Mujhe kum se kum aaj ka din toh do. Main thik se inhe bodies ko dekh kar bataonga sab kuch," Dr. Salunkhe returned.

"Aur woh beam?" Abhijeet asked.

"Woh beam ko main dekh rahi hoon. Jaise hi kuch pata chalta hai main bata doongi," Dr. Niyati replied from the other side of the lab where the beam was lying.

*****

Special Investigations Unit, Dipti Sharma's house, 5:45PM

Dipti opened the door as Vivek and Anushka knocked on the door again. She asked, "Ji?"

Anushka showed her badge, "Hum log CID Special Investigations Unit se aaye hain. Aapne char mahine pehle ek report likhwayi thi ke ek Inspector Anil Naik ne aapko wrongfully arrest kiya tha aur torture kiya tha. Hum uss silsile main aaye hain."

"Acha matlab aap ko time finally mil gaya meri report pe investigation karne ke liye. Thank you," Dipti replied, sarcastically. She continued, "Lekin ab mujhe uss baare main koi baat nahi karni hai."

She tried to close the door, but Vivek was faster. He put a foot in the door and said, "Dekhiye hum jaante hain time laga hai lekin aap ko yeh samjhna chahiye ke hamare paas bahut se reports aate hain. Har report ko investigate karne main thoda waqt toh lagta hi hai."

Dipti stopped pushing at the door and said, grudgingly, "Thik hai. Undar aaye."

She opened the door. The two went in and after settling down, Anushka asked, "Hum puri baat ek baar suna chahte hain aapse phir se."

Dipti responded, "Paanch mahine pehle ek chor ne mera purse chura liya tha jab main ek coffee shop main bheti thi. Main uski report likhwane Thane Police Station gayi jahan Inspector Anil Naik ne report likhne se mana kar diya. Jab maine poocha kyun toh unhone kaha kyun ki maine unhe paise nahi diye hain. Jab maine paise dene se mana kar diya aur yeh kaha ke main unki report karongi toh unhone mujhe arrest kar liya yeh keh kar ke unhe shaq hai ke maine chori ki hai. Maine baar baar kaha ke maine koi chori nahi ki hai lekin unhone yah kisi aur officer ne meri baat nahi maani. Agle do din tak unhone mujhe custody main rakha aur kafi maara mujhe lady constables ne. Finally mujhe chor diya gaya aur Inspector Anil ne kaha ke agar maine kuch bhi kaha toh woh yeh phir se karenge. Lekin main maani nahi aur Commissioner sir ke office paunch gayi report likhwane Inspector Anil ke khilaaf. Yeh baat unhe pata chal gayi aur agle do hafton tak unhone aur unke do constables ne mujhe kafi harass kiya. Kabhi mere ghar ke bhar ajeeb ajeeb cheezein chor jaate toh kabhi mera raasta rok kar mujhpe cheezein dal dete. Ek din unhone do gundon ko bheja mujhe cherne ke liye aur araam se khade ho ke tamasha dekha. Jab maine aapni report wapas li tab ruka yeh sab. Uske baad maine yeh report likhwa di."

"Aur yeh report ke baare main Inspector Anil ko nahi pata chala?" Vivek asked.

"I don't think so. Kyun ki jis din maine Commissioner sir se report wapas li tab se unhone mujhe pareshan nahi kiya hai," Dipti replied.

"Kya tum unhe constables ko pehchaan sakti ho?" Anushka asked.

"Bilkul!" Dipti exclaimed.

"Thik hai. Hum ek investigation shuru karte hain. Agar hamare paas aur sawal honge toh hum wapas aayenge," Anushka replied.

"Bilkul aana. Mujhe insaaf chahiye," Dipti replied.

*****

Special Investigations Unit, CID bureau, 6:10PM

As Vivek and Anushka were talking to Dipti, Dushayant, Pankaj, and Aditi were going through the other complaints they had. Aditi pulled one out and was reading it. She looked up in surprise and then picked up Dipti's complaint. She read the two and then said, "Sir yeh dekhiye. Inspector Anil Naik ke khilaaf ek aur case bhi hai. Yeh bhi bribery ka case hai. Ek businessman ka kehna hai ke usse ek local gunda pareshan kar raha tha aur jab woh Inspector Anil ke paas complain karne gaya toh Inspector Anil ne rishwat mangi action lene ke liye. Usne de toh diya lekin baad main complain kar diya."

Dushayant took the file from Aditi and read through it himself. Then he said, "Baki ke files dekho. Aur system main bhi dekho. Dekho ke iss Inspector Anil ke khilaaf aur bhi cases hain kya. Aur agar hain toh sab ko review karo. Pehle iss Inspector Anil ko hi pakdte hain."

Aditi and Pankaj nodded. By mutual agreement, Aditi turned to the files with Dushayant, while Pankaj took the responsibility of reading the reports on the internal complaint system. Vivek and Anushka came back at this time. Vivek said, "Sir lagta hai ke yeh Dipti Sharma sach bol rahi hai. Kyun ki usne jo hume bataya woh bilkul report se match karta hai. Kahin bhi alag nahi tha. Haan lekin usne zada detail main bataya."

"Mujhe bhi lagta hai ke woh sach bol rahi hai. Agar ek officer ke khilaaf ek complaint ho toh galat hone ke chances bhi hain. Lekin agar ek officer ke khilaaf teen open complaints mil jaayen aur teeno bribery ke baare main toh phir galat hone ke kum chances hain," Dushayant said, putting a file he was reading on top of the 2 files they had already set aside.

"Matlab yeh teeno complaints Inspector Anil ke khilaaf hain? Aur bhi hain kya?" Anushka asked, in surprise.

"Ho sakta hai. Tum main se ek Pankaj ke saath lag jao aur doosra hamare saath. Saare reports jo iske khilaaf hain alag rakho," Dushayant said.

*****

Homicide + SIU, CID bureau, 6:20PM

Across the SIU team, the Homicide team was working to establish the identities of the 2 women. Rajat and Freddy were going through the missing persons reports that were in the database, while Daya, Abhijeet, and Priyanka were calling each police station in Mumbai to see if they had any reports that had yet to be uploaded in the missing persons database. They had been at it for 2 hours without much success.

Daya checked the fax machine as a one-page report came through. He picked up the paper and examined the photo carefully. Then on the phone he said, "Nahi yeh woh nahi hai jisse hum dhoond rahe hain. Ek baar phir se woh tasveer dekho jo maine fax ki thi. Inhe dono main bahut farak hai."

Abhijeet wasn't having any success either. He said, "Maine do auraton ki baat ki hai. Yeh tumne do maardon ki gayab honi ki report kyun bhej di?"

Then Freddy hit the jackpot. He called, "Sir mil gaya!"

Abhijeet and Daya hung up as Priyanka also put the phone down. The 3 crowded around Freddy and Rajat. Freddy brought up the two missing persons reports. Abhijeet compared the photos to the photos they had of the victims and agreed, "Haan yehi hain."

"Sir yeh Nirmala hai aur doosri Chaya hai. Dono social workers hain. Kal raat ko gayab ho gayi thi achanak se. Inke saath kam karne wale Ashok ne report likhwayi hai," Freddy read.

"Kaunse police station main?" Daya asked.

"Thane," Freddy replied.

"Inspector ka naam?" Rajat asked.

"Inspector Anil Naik," Freddy replied.

"Acha report print kar do," Abhijeet said.

Then Dushayant asked, "Ek minute Freddy. Tumne kya naam liya tha?"

"Nirmala aur Chaya," Freddy replied.

"Nahi inspector ka," Dushayant corrected.

"Inspector Anil Naik," Freddy answered.

"Sir yeh toh wohi officer hai jisse hum investigate kar rahe hain," Vivek said.

All 10 were now listening very attentively. Abhijeet asked, "Tum log iss officer ko kyun investigate kar rahe ho?"

"Sir iske khilaaf hume che cases mile hain. Sab main yehi likha huya hai ke isne rishwat maangi report likhwane aur investigation karne ke liye," Anushka replied.

"Koi report Ashok se hai?" Daya asked.

The SIU team checked their reports and shook their heads. Daya looked at Abhijeet and said, "Boss iss Ashok se milna parega abhi. Agar isse bhi rishwat maangi gayi thi aur usne di hai toh yeh toh ek jurm ho gaya."

"Sir iss Inspector Anil se bhi milna chahiye. Sirf yeh poochne ke woh iss case main kahan tak pauncha tha," Rajat suggested.

"Hmm. Haan aise hi karte hain. Agar Ashok se bhi rishwat maangi gayi thi toh yeh bhi jaana zaroori hai ke usne di kyun," Abhijeet said, thoughtfully.

"Sir yeh cases abhi ke liye alag hi rahenge naa?" Aditi asked.

"Haan. Hamare paas kuch nahi hai jo yeh kehta hai ke yeh dono cases ek hi hain. Sirf isli kyun ki FIR likhane wale police officer pe investigation chal raha hai hum inhe dono cases ko connect nahi kar sakte hain," Abhijeet agreed.

Daya said, "Waise yeh baat ACP sir ko bhi batani chahiyi. Main Ashok se milta hoon lekin pehle sir ko bata deta hoon jaate jaate."

"Aur hum dono pehle Nirmala ke ghar jaate hain aur phir Chaya ke," Rajat said, for himself and Priyanka.

"Freddy tum aur main iss Inspector Anil se milte hain," Abhijeet said. "Abhi ke liye yeh do alag alag cases hain lekin agar kuch bhi milta hai jo inhe dono cases ko connect karta hai toh phir hum log bhi mil kar investigation karenge."

*****

Homicide, Ashok's house, 6:40PM

Ashok opened the door at the third bell. He asked, "Ji?"

"Daya showed his badge and said, "Main CID Senior Inspector Daya. Tumne ek report file ki thi ke Nirmala aur Chaya kal raat se gayab hain. Main uske silsile main aaya hoon."

"Aayi. Undar aayi," Ashok welcomed.

Daya stepped in and asked, "Kya tum ek baar sab kuch mujhe phir se bata sakte ho? Woh kaise gayab huye, kahan se gayab huye, tumhe kab pata laga, aur tum Thane station kyun gaye the likhwane report?"

"Sir hum teeno ek bal sansta main kam karte hain. Hum log bachon ko bachane ki koshish karte hain aise logon se jo unka istamal karte hain aapne liye. Hum logon ko ek bahut baare racket ke baare main pata laga tha kareeb teen mahine pehle jab humne do bachon ko bachaya. Yeh ek gang hai jo Mumbai se hi bache kidnap karta hai aur phir kisi ka haat kaat deta hai toh kisi per tod deta aur phir unse zabardasti bheek maangwate hain, saaman bechne pe majboor karte hain, aur...aur kuch ladkiyon ko toh yeh toh bechte bhi hain," Ashok started.

"Iska inke gayab hone se kya lena dena hai?" Daya asked.

"Sir hum log pichle teen mahino iss gang ko dhoond rahe hain aur nazar rakhe huye hain. Saboot akhte kar rahe hain. Humne aise cases pehle bhi police main report kiye hain lekin kyun ki bachon ka mamla hai toh hum sab kuch jaana chahte hain taki jab police ko batayein toh woh saare bachon ko ek saath bacha sakhe aur ek saath pure gang ko pakde sakhen. Aaj subah Nirmala aur Chaya ko undercover jaana tha do bachon ke maa aur bua ban ke. Unka kam tha woh do bachon ko achanak se ek signal pe dekhna aur unhe kisi taran se wahan se niklane ki koshish karna. Jab koi gang wala unhe rokne aata toh unhe ek hungama karna tha jisse aas paas ke log akhte ho jaayein aur phir hum logon ko wahan pe aana tha aapne bal sansta ki taraf se aur unhe pakdana tha. Yeh bas ek chota sa hissa tha hamare saboot akhte karne ki maqsat main. Lekin sir woh kal raat ko achanak se gayab ho gaye. Dono ne kaha ke woh ek aadmi se milne jaa rahe hain issi case ke silsile main aur ek ghante main aa jayenge. Jab wapas nahi aaye toh hum log ko tension hone lagi aur humne unhe phone kiya lekin dono ne phone uthaya hi nahi. Doosri baar try kiya tha toh phones off aaye. Thane station hamare sansta ke location se thodi door hai. Isli main aur Prakash wahan paunch gaye report likhwane. Prakash bhar ruka aur main undar gaya report likhwane," Ashok explained and finished.

"Kya unhone yeh nahi bataya tumhe ke woh kahan jaa rahe hain?" Daya asked.

"Nahi sir. Humne poocha bhi tha lekin unhone kaha ke aane ke baad batayenge," Ashok replied. "Par bata kya hai? Aap itne sawal kyun pooch rahe hain?"

Daya ignored the question and asked, "Kya Inspector Anil ne tumse report likhwane ke liye kuch liya tha?"

"Umm...darsal woh...haan kuch paise liye the. Aur humne diye the. Humne socha ke pehle Nirmala aur Chaya mil jaayein phir hum uski report kar denge," Ashok said, guility. Then he asked again, "Lekin sir aap itne sawal pooch kyun rahe hain? Sab kuch thik hai naa?"

"Hume Nirmala aur Chaya ki bodies mili hain. Dono kal raat maare the ek under construction building main. Shayad khoon hai. Kya hum unhe do bachon se mil sakta hoon jinke wajah se aap logon ko iss gang ke baare main pata chala?" Daya asked.

"Bilkul. Woh abhi bhi hamare paas hain. Lekin aaj nahi. Kal," Ashok agreed.

"Thik hai. Hamare office se koi aa jayega," Daya said.

*****

Child and Women Crimes + Homicide, Bachpan Bachao, Tuesday, 8:30AM

Daya and Asha waited in the office as the 2 children were brought out. Since this was still a homicide case, Daya was there until he decided that this was no longer related to the murder. Asha was there as this had now become her case as well. After meeting the children she would open a case as well to find this gang.

The children came out and Asha and Daya exchanged glances. The 2 had been in a very bad state at some point. The two girls were thinner then was healthy even though it seemed that they had been eating better. If the two hadn't been told before that the girls were 10 and 14 then they would never have been able to guess because the girls looked no more than 8 or 9. After looking at them, Asha whispered to Daya, "Hum log bhi iss case pe already kam kar rahe hain."

"Kya? Toh inse baat karni hai ke nahi?" Daya asked in a low voice.

"Karni hai. Lekin main aapni team ke saath aana chahti hoon," Asha replied.

"Thik hai," Daya agreed.

He conveyed the message to Ashok and the girls and then the 2 left.

*****

Anti-Corruption, CID bureau, 8:30AM

After a long day of training, the team was finally ready to get to work. They didn't really need the training, but as a compliance issue any officer working in any form of anti-corruption team was required to undergo a mandatory training that had been written several years ago by CBI. It was a day long and without it the officer couldn't get started on solving any case. Now Viren and Kavin were reviewing all the cases they had, while Sudhakar, Kajal, and Lavanya finished another level of training that Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors had to go through.

Viren showed Kavin a case and said, "Yeh pehle karte hain. Yeh ek politician hai. Isse undar kar denge toh yahan ke kafi cases aapne aap solve ho jayenge."

Kavin took the file from Viren and read it. Then he nodded. "Haan yehi karte hain."

*****

ACP Pradyuman's office, CID bureau, 9AM

After going through a series of meetings with the various police teams and the Commissioner, ACP Pradyuman was glad to be back in the office to work on cases. This was what he liked doing best.

At this time 15 people walked into his office filling it. They were the Homicide, CWC, and SIU teams. ACP Pradyuman asked, "Kya huya?"

"Sir hume lagta hai hamare cases jude huye hain," Abhijeet replied, for all of them.

"Kaise? Aur kyun?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Sir hum log do murders investigate kar rahe hain. Nirmala aur Chaya. Dono social workers the aur parson raat ko ek under construction building main maare gaye ek girti huyi beam se," Freddy started.

"Tumhe khoon kyun lag raha hai? Accident bhi ho sakta hai," ACP Pradyuman stated the obvious.

"Sir Dr. Niyati ne kaha hai ke beam ko bahut saafi se kata gaya hai kisi high-powered electric saw se. Aur ek taraf ko cleanly saw kiya gaya aur doosri taraf ko aada aur phir hammer se maara gaya taki woh puri taran se toot ke gir jaaye," Rajat replied.

When ACP Pradyuman didn't ask anymore questions, they continued. Asha said, "Sir hum log kareeb bees bachon ke gayab hone ke baare main investigate kar rahe hain. Woh yahani Mumbai se hain alag alag bastiyon se. Unhe sab ko shayad ek hi gang ne kidnap kiya hai aur unse bheek mangwa rahe hain, unse zabardasti saman bechwa rahe hain, aur shayad unhe bech rahe hain. Jinhe bachon ko hum dhoond rahe hain unhe main se do Bachpan Bachao sansta ke saath hain pichle teen mahino se. Yeh sansta bhi issi gang ke upar investigation kar rahi hai aur sab bachon ko dhoond rahi hai. Nirmala aur Chaya bhi issi sansta ka hissa hain."

"Ashok, jo iss sansta ka hissa hai, ne bataya ke Nirmala aur Chaya ko kal subah ek natak karna tha taki Bachpan Bachao kuch gang walon ko pakde sakhe aur kuch aur bachon ko bacha sakhe lekin parson raat ko woh yeh keh kar gaye the ke unhe kisi se milna hai aur ek ghante main wapas aa jayenge. Jab woh wapas nahi aaye toh Ashok ne Thane police station main ek report likhwayi," Daya took over.

"Usne jis officer ke paas report likhwayi uske khilaaf hum bhi investigation kar rahe hain. Aur uska kehna hai ke usne bhi Inspector Anil ko paise diye the report likhne ke liye. Abhi tak toh itna hi connection bana hai kyun ki bachon ki report toh kisi aur jagah likhwayi gayi thi. Lekin hume yeh bhi pata laga hai ke iss Anil ne koi investigation nahi ki hai ab tak Nirmala aur Chaya ko dhoondne ke liye aur jo bachon ko Bachpan Bachao bachne wala tha woh bhi uss signal se gayab ho gaye hain," Dushayant added.

"Yeh toh samjh aata hai ke Homicide aur CWC ke cases kaise connected hain. Lekin tumhare case main toh bas reporting officer ek hai. Case kaise connect ho gaya?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Sir humne pata kiya hai. Jab Daya sir ne bataya ke Bachpan Bachao kal subah kya karne wala tha hum log ussi signal pe paunche dekhne ke wahan kya ho raha tha. Wahan pe jo log footpath pe rehte hain unse pooch tach ki toh pata chala ke wahan subah se koi bache nahi aaye the," Vivek replied.

"Phir humne Inspector Anil ke phone records examine kiye toh dekha ke woh ek number ke saath kafi time se touch main tha aur yeh number koi aisa number hai jo pura Mumbai ghumta rehta hai lekin ek location pe kafi rehta hai. Aur woh Panvel main kisi band farmhouse ki location hai. Yeh farmhouse pichle kayi saalon se band hai. Hume lagta hai ke shayad yeh wohi jagah hai jahan saare bachon ko rakha jaata hai," Aditi continued.

"Thik hai. Teeno investigations ko ek saath karo aur dekho kahan tak paunchte ho. Dekho kahan tak paunchte ho. Aur iss farmhouse pe bhi nazar rakho. Dekho ke yahan kya chal raha hai. Inspector Anil pe bhi nazar rakho. Pata karo yeh kisse milta hai, kahan milta hai, aur kab kab milta hai. Pehle pura case samjh lo aur phir inhe bachon ko bachana hai," ACP Pradyuman agreed.

*****

Anti-Corruption, CID bureau, 9:30AM

Sudhakar, Kajal, and Lavanya finished their final training and then joined Viren and Kavin who were making notes from the case file as they were discussing each step. Kavin said, "Pehle toh hume yeh pata karna chahiye ke iss minister ne aapna black paisa kahan rakha hai."

"Regular bank account main toh nahi hai. Aur isne aapne naam se koi doosra account bhi nahi khol rakha hai," Viren said, reading from the file.

"Hum yeh baat kaise mann lein? Check toh karna parega," Kavin returned.

"Haan yeh bhi hai. Phir toh yeh bhi check karna chahiye ke inka ghar kabhi sach main check huya tha ke nahi. Aur nahi huya tha toh hume karna parega," Viren said as he was writing.

"Sir kaunsa case pehle investigate hoga?" Kajal asked.

"Yeh ek minister ke khilaaf corruption ke charges hain," Viren replied, showing the file.

"Sir agar yeh CBI se aaya hai toh pehle toh yeh bhi dekhna chahiye ke yeh charges sahi bhi hain ke nahi. Ho sakta hai kisi aur minister ke kehne main aa kar inhone yeh case prepare kiya ho," Lavanya suggested.

"Yeh bhi dekh lenge," Viren agreed.

"Sir main yeh check karta hoon. Mera ek dost hai CBI main jo issi team ka hissa hai aur sahi insaan hai. Woh bata sakta hai," Sudhakar offered.

"Thik hai," Viren agreed. "Kajal tum aur Lavanya iss minister ke bank account details check karo. Dekho iske aur bhi koi bank accounts hain kya iske yah iske parivaar ke kisi ke naam pe. Aur dekho agar kahin bhar iske koi accounts."

"Main yeh pata karta hoon chupke se agar iske ghar pe sach main koi search huya tha ke nahi," Kavin said.

"Aur main iske saare connections ka pata karta hoon," Viren said.

*****

Homicide + CWC+ SIU, CID bureau, 9:50AM

Tasha's phone rang. She checked the number and then picked up, "Haan bolo...Acha?...Haan...Thik hai...Nahi hum dekh lenge...Haan tumhe mil jayenge...Haan."

Tasha hung up and said, "Sir mere khabri ka phone tha. Usse pata chala hai ke bache kahan hain. Woh ek Panvel ke band farmhouse main hain. Address hai 23 Gandhi Street."

"Yeh toh wohi address hai jahan pe woh mobile ka main location hota hai jispe Inspector Anil baat karta rehta hai," Asha said.

"Toh phir iska yehi matlab huya ke yeh jisse bhi baat karta hai uska haat inhe bachon ko kidnap main hai. Lekin ek baat samjh nahi aayi. Ek police officer ka aise gang ke saath koi bhi connection kyun hai?" Daya wondered.

"Sir yeh toh isli hoga taki uss gang pe agar koi investigation kaare toh isse pata chal sakta hai aur phir yeh gang ko bata sakta hai aur woh log gayab ho sakte hain," Vivek suggested.

"Yeh isli bhi ho sakta hai kyun ki iss sab se koi aur bhi benefit kar raha hai," Tasha suggested.

"Lekin inhe bachon se aisa kam karwa ke zada paise toh nahi bante honge. Toh koi bhi zada benefit kaise karega?" Priyanka asked.

"Yeh toh Anil se pooch kar hi pata lagega," Anushka said.

"Ab Anil se koi sawal nahi pooch sakta hai," Dr. Salunkhe said, from the door.

"Kyun?" Abhijeet asked.

"Kyun ki uski laash abhi abhi hamare paas aayi hai," Dr. Salunkhe replied.

"Kya?!! Hamare paas kyun?" Rajat asked.

"Woh toh nahi pata hai. Lekin abhi abhi ek ambulance main do bande uski laash hamare lab main chor ke gaye hain. Aur uske saath yeh letter bhi hai," Dr. Salunkhe said.

"Dr. Salunkhe jaldi se batao ke yeh kaise maara aur kab," Abhijeet said, as Freddy took the letter.

Freddy opened the letter and read it. Dr. Salunkhe, "Hum chaaron kam kar rahe hain. Ek ghante main aa jaana. Puri report de denge Nirmala, Chaya, aur Inspector Anil pe."

Then he left. Freddy said, "Sir yeh letter City Hospital ke ek Dr. Pallavi ne bheja hai. Unka kehna hai ke Inspector Anil do ghante pehle City Hospital laaye gaye the. Unhe goli lagi thi. Unke saath jo constable tha usne kaha tha ke agar Inspector Anil ko kuch bhi hota hai toh unki laash CID ke paas bhej di jaaye. Isse pehle ke Dr. Pallavi aur kuch pata kar sakti Inspector Anil maar gaye aur woh constable gayab ho gaya. Unhone unki laash hamare paas bhej diya hai iss umeed se ke hume sach main yeh body ki zaroorat thi kisi wajah se."

"Boss ek baat samjh nahi aayi. Humne investigation bas shuru hi ki hai aur yeh aadmi maara jaata hai. Yeh koi coincidence hai yah kisi ko pata chal gaya ke hum koi investigation kar rahe hain aur isse pehle ke hum isse kuch poochte isse maar diya," Daya said to Abhijeet.

"Sir mujhe lagta hai ke yeh kisi ne jaan booj ke kiya hai. Shayad kisi ko pata chal gaya hai ke humne investigation shuru kar di hai aur isli usne Anil ko maar diya," Vivek said.

"Iss investigation ke baare main kis kis ko pata hai?" Abhijeet asked.

"Maine Ashok se baat ki thi. Usse Inspector Anil ke baare main bhi poocha tha," Daya said.

"Phir toh baki ke Bachpan Bachao logon ko bhi pata lag gaya hoga," Asha put in.

"Aur humne Dipti Sharma se baat ki thi. Uske wajah se hi toh yeh investigation shuru huyi thi," Anushka offered.

"Humne Inspector Adil se baat ki thi," Purvi said.

"Aur agar usse pata hai toh shayad baki ke police station ko bhi pata hai," Tasha said.

"Sir yeh bhi ho sakta hai ke koi humpe nazar rakhe huye tha," Sachin suggested.

"Ho sakta hai. Lekin kisi ko bhi kaise pata hai ke hum kaunsa case lenge. Aur yeh toh ek coincidence se zada nahi hai ke teeno teams usse waqt aise cases pe lage huye the jo ek doosre se jurte hai. Agar SIU kisi aur officer ko investigate kar rahi hoti toh?" Rajat said.

"Sir hume uss aadmi ke baare main jaana chahiye jisse Inspector Anil baat karta tha. Shayad wahan se kuch pata lag sakhe," Vineet suggested.

"Yeh bhi jaane ki koshish karna chahiye ke iss pure khel se sab se zada kisse phaida hota hai," Sachin said.

"Aur yeh bhi jaana chahiye ke Nirmala aur Chaya kisse milne jaa rahe the. Kyun ki agar woh yehi keh kar nikle the toh ho sakta hai yeh sahi ho," Priyanka put in.

"Aisa karte hai kam ko divide karte hain. Asha tum aur tumhari team iss aadmi ke baare main jaano jisse Anil baat karta tha. Dushayant tum aur tumhari team yeh jaane ki koshish karo ke yeh sab kahan tak fehla huya hai aur kaun kaun iss sab se benefit karta hai. Aur hum log yeh jaante hain ke Nirmala aur Chaya kisse milne jaa rahe the aur Anil kaise maara aur kisne maara," Abhijeet said.

"Isme main bhi rahonga," ACP Pradyuman said, stepping out of his office.

*****

Anti-Corruption, CID bureau, 11:10AM

Lavanya asked, "Kajal kuch mila abhi tak?"

"Nahi. Abhi tak kuch bhi nahi. Che banks ko phone kar chuki hoon aur saare naam check karwa chuki hoon. Koi bhi naam nahi hai. Tumhe kuch mila?" Kajal asked.

"Nahi abhi tak nahi. Swiss bank ke saath phone pe hoon lekin wahan pe subah ke 6:30 baj rahe hain toh abhi wahan pe koi bhi nahi hai ek operator ke eliva. Phir bhi woh koshish kar raha hai mere liye information niklane ki," Lavanya said.

"Yeh time zone ka baara problem hota hai. Do teen ghanton main phir try kar lena," Kajal suggested.

"Woh toh thik hai lekin ab Cayman Islands kab check karoon? Abhi wahan pe raat ke 12:30 baj rahe hain," Lavanya asked.

"Umm..." Kajal paused, then after a few moments said in question form, "Sham ko 7, 8 baje?"

"Umm..." Lavanya did the calculation and then nodded, "Haan shayad yehi hoga. Phir bhi ek baar abhi try kar leti hoon, nahi toh sham ko." Then she got back on the phone, "Yes. Yes I'm here...Oh you got someone? That's great! Thank you so much...Yes I'll hold."

Lavanya put her hand on the receiver again and said, "Chalo yahan toh koi mil gaya."

Sudhakar came back at this time and asked, "Viren sir aur Kavin sir kahan hain?"

"Viren sir aapne kisi informer se milne gaye huye hain," Kajal replied. "Aur Kavin sir yehi pata karne gaye hain ke pehle bhi koi search huya ke nahi."

"Yes hello...Actually I'm calling from India. Mumbai CID. My name is Lavanya. I needed some information if you could help," Lavanya said on the phone. She waved at Sudhakar. Then she continued, "I just wanted to know if you have any account under the name of Yograj Khanna, Vinita Khanna, or Akash Khanna?...I understand, but you need to understand as well. This is very important. I just need to know if you have an account. I'm not asking for any details about the account...Okay. I'll hold."

As Lavanya held she said, "Viren sir ne aadha ghante pehle phone kiya tha aur kaha tha ke woh bas aa rahe hain. Aate hi honge. Kavin sir ka kuch nahi pata hai."

Then she got back on the phone in her search. Sudhakar said, "Well mujhe pata chala hai ke yeh case asli hai. CBI ko sach main shaq tha ke Yograj Khanna ek bahut baara corrupt politician hai aur aapne ministry ke duran usne kafi paisa undar kiya hai galat deals se paise lekar aur ministry se bhi paise chura kar undar kar raha hai. Lekin woh aur kuch nahi bata paaya. Usse aur kuch nahi pata hai."

"Chalo yeh toh confirm huya. Ab bas yeh pata chal jaaye ke yeh aadmi aapne paise rakhta kahan hai," Kajal said.

Viren came in at this time and heard what Kajal said. He said, "Haan aur yeh bhi pata chal gaya hai ke iske police se lekar CBI main connections hain. Saare naam toh nahi pata hain lekin. Hum logon ko saath main kam karna parega naam niklane ke liye."

Lavanya nodded and then got back on the phone, "Yes. Yes I'm here...Ah you have something. That's great...An account...for Yograj Khanna of Delhi?...Oh. No I'm actually looking for a Yograj Khanna from Mumbai...Yeah. Is it possible for you to email me a photo of this Yograj Khanna? Actually the man we're investigating is quite calculative and may have lied about his address or may have an address in other cities as well...It is?!! Great!...Yes my email address is lavanya@cid.mumbai.in.com...Yes thank you so much. You have a good day. Bye."

Lavanya hung up and said, "Chalo Swiss Bank main ek account mila hai Yograj Khanna ke naam se. Lekin yeh koi Delhi ka Yograj Khanna hai. Pata nahi hamare kitne kam ka hai."

"Kam ka ho sakta hai. Abhi se yeh maat socho ke kam ka nahi hai. Photo dekhne ke baad decide karna," Viren said, sitting down next to Lavanya.

A few minutes later the email came through and Lavanya opened the picture. The picture turned out to be someone completely different. He was in no way related or part of Yograj's family or friends. As it was no man would put his black money on his friend's name. His family's maybe. But never his friend's. Viren said, "Koi baat nahi. Dhoondte raho. Aur agar koi bank account nahi milta hai toh bank lockers check karna parega aur nahi toh raid conduct karna parega."

"Search toh huya hai. Raid nahi," Kavin said, coming in.

"Aur search main kuch mila?" Viren asked.

"Ek bhi cheez nahi. Which is interesting kyun ki search main pura aadha din laga tha aur ek bhi cheez nahi mili phir bhi," Kavin pointed out.

"Sir iska yeh bhi toh matlab ho sakta hai ke iss Yograj ne sab kuch achi taran se chupa rakha hai," Sudhakar suggested.

"Ho sakta hai. Aur yeh bhi ho sakta hai ke inhe CBI walon ne paise khaye the," Kavin returned.

"Chalo pehle iss Yograj ke connections dhoondte hain aur paise kahan hain yeh dhoondte hai aur agar aur kuch nahi toh ek raid conduct kar denge," Viren said.

*****

Homicide, Forensic lab, 12:10PM

Dr. Salunkhe and Dr. Niyati were examining Nirmala and Chaya's bodies, while Dr. Anjalika and Dr. Nyla were working on determining how Anil had died and when he had died. ACP Pradyuman was with the Homicide team. He asked, "Haan Salunkhe. Kya pata chala hai?"

"Siddha Salunkhe? Boss kya tumhe yahan aur koi nahi dikhayi de raha hai?" Dr. Salunkhe asked.

"Dikh raha hai. Lekin sab se pehle tum dikhe isli tumhara naam liya," ACP Pradyuman teased.

"Haan sab se pehle main hi dikhta hoon," Dr. Salunkhe returned, indignantly.

"Dr. Niyati aap batao. Kya pata chala hai?" Abhijeet asked, interrupting the fight.

"Haye. Thank you Abhijeet. Tumne toh mera naam liya," Dr. Niyati flirted.

Abhijeet turned red in the face as everyone looked away as if they hadn't heard or seen anything. Then Abhijeet teased, "Arre aisa kuch nahi hai Dr. Niyati. Bas maine socha ke aap toh mere dil ki baat samjhenge."

This time everyone chocked back a laugh or two as Dr. Niyati's eyebrows went into her hair in surprise. ACP Pradyuman cleared his throat. Abhijeet's smile disappeared and he became serious, "Haan toh kya pata chala hai?"

"Yehi ke yeh dono parson raat ko hi maar gaye the. 8 aur 10 baje ke beech," Dr. Niyati started.

"Aur boss inke bodies main koi drugs nahi mile hain. Yeh uss beam ki wajah se hi maarein hai aur shayad jab tak inhe beam dikha tab tak bahut deer ho gayi thi. Woh beam inpe gir chuka tha," Dr. Salunkhe added.

"Lekin Dr. Salunkhe aap yeh toh hume already bata chuke hain," Daya said.

"Haan lekin yeh nahi bataya tha ke inhe dono ki maut ek waqt pe nahi huyi thi," Dr. Salunkhe said.

"Kya matlab Salunkhe sir?" Freddy asked.

"Freddy, Chaya toh beam ke girte hi maar gayi thi. Iska saar phat gaya hai. Aise main koi nahi bach sakta hai. Lekin Nirmala shayad thodi si peeche thi yah peeche huyi thi kyun ki yeh shayad pehle giri aur phir beam iske upar gira. Iske ribs toote huye hain aur yeh tabhi ho sakta hai agar insaan pehle se hi leta huya ho. Aur yeh dekho iske naukhoon. Isne aapne aap ko beam ke niche se niklane ki koshish ki. Lekin shayad woh bahut heavy tha yah usme itni jaan nahi thi aur woh aapne aap ko nikal nahi paayi. Nirmala shayad Chaya ke aadhe ek ghante baad maari hai. Haan lekin dono ki maut ka samay 8 aur 10 ke beech hai," Dr. Salunkhe explained.

"Aur sir humne aap ko bata toh diya tha ke woh beam kisse kata aur maara gaya. Lekin ab shayad hum woh aap ko dikha bhi sakte hain. Salunkhe sir ke kehne pe hum teeno ne alag alag electric saws try kiye aur yeh wala mila hai," Dr. Niyati said, showing a very hefty looking machine. She continued, "Yeh ek cement saw hai jo concrete katne main istamal hota hai. Iss jaisa hi koi saw istamal huya tha iss cement ko katne ke liye. Yeh saws main ek special type of blade dalta hai. Diamond blade. Uss blade ke marks hain beam pe. Aur hammer koi normal construction hammer hoga."

"Yeh saws kahan milte hain yeh dekhna chahiye," Priyanka said.

"Lekin yeh ek construction site. Yahan pe aise saws toh hote hi honge," Freddy returned.

"Haan. Aur unhe saws pe ungli ke nishaan milne bhi mushkil hain kyun ki aise kaamon ke liye gloves ki zaroorat hoti hai. Aur khooni bhi aisa nahi hoga jo aapne ungli ke nishaan chor dega," Rajat mused.

"Phir bhi dekhne main kya jaata hai," Abhijeet said.

"Aur Dr. Nyla aur Dr. Anjalika aap dono ko kya mila hai?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Sir yeh aaj subah hi maara hai. 9 baje. Isse seene main goli lagi thi. Goli lagne ke kareeb aadhe ghante baad maar gaya," Dr. Nyla said.

"Kya yeh pata chal sakta hai ke isse hi target kiya gaya tha yah kisi aur ko?" Daya asked.

"Lagta toh hai ke yehi target tha kyun ki isse yahan seene main maara gaya hai. Agar yeh target nahi hota toh shayad itna sahi nahi lagta nishana," Dr. Anjalika said.

"Matlab kisi ko yah toh yeh pata lag gaya tha ke hum investigation kar rahe hain aur darr raha hai yah kisi aur wajah se usse maara hai," Rajat said.

"Doosra dekho pehle. Agar aisa koi saboot nahi milta hai toh pehla hi hoga," ACP Pradyuman said.

"Main yeh pata karta hoon ke uske koi dushman the kya," Rajat said.

"Aur main yeh pata karta hoon ke koi contract diya gaya tha kya Inspector Anil ke naam pe," Daya said.

"Freddy, Priyanka tum dono mere saath chalo. Hum log Inspector Anil ke ghar pe chalte hain ek baar aur crime scene bhi dekh lenge," Abhijeet said.

*****

Child and Women Crimes, Super Fast Restaurant, 1:25PM

Tasha and Purvi sat down at a table. Purvi asked, "Kya tumhe lagta hai ke tumhara yeh aadmi tumhe kuch batayega jo hume iss aadmi ke baare main kuch bata sakta hai?"

"Nandu mera best informer hai. Aaj tak aisi koi baat nahi hai jo woh pata nahi kar paaya hai. Agar yeh bhi pata karne ko kaha hai toh woh pata kar lega aur jald. Aur usne khud hi bulaya mujhe yahan pe," Tasha replied.

"Chalo tumhare iss best informer se bhi mil lenge aaj," Purvi said, smiling.

A man in a business suit came over and asked, "Kya main yahan zara bhet sakta hoon?"

Purvi said, "Nahi. Hum kisi ka intezaar kar rahe hain."

But Tasha replied, "Haan bhet jao."

Purvi raised her eyebrows as the man sat down. He said, "Shukriya."

Tasha got busy in her menu and whispered, "Kya pata chala hai?"

"Yeh aadmi Panvel ke farmhouse main hi hai. Wohi pata jo aapne diya tha. Uska naam Raghav hai. Aur uske connections bahut upar tak hain," the man, Nandu, said.

Purvi understood who he was and asked, "Kahan tak aur kaun kaun?"

"Yeh kaun hain?" Nandu asked.

"Mere saath hi hai. Inspector Purvi," Tasha replied.

"Main naam nahi le sakta hoon. Yun samjh lo ke minister hai. Aur aapki ek team unka investigation kar rahi hai," Nandu said, looking around slightly.

Tasha and Purvi exchanged glances and Purvi mouthed, "Anti-Corruption."

Tasha nodded and asked, "Yeh aadmi, Raghav, kab aur kahan pakda jaa sakta hai? Aur uske saath aur kitne log hain? Aur bache kitne hain?"

"Bache kitne hain yeh toh nahi pata hai lekin haan Raghav ke eliva iss sab main 10 aur log shamal hain. Aur sab ek hi taran ke hain. Yeh log kisi ko maarne se bhi peeche nahi hatenge," Nandu returned. "Haan yeh bata sakta hoon ke yeh sab kareeb 6 baje ke baad se ussi farmhouse main hote hain. Raat ko gharak aate hain jo raat ko 12, 1 baje tak wahan rehte hain. Uske baad woh jagah khali ho jaati aur subah 6, 7 baje phir se log wahan se niklte hain bheek maangne ke liye aur saman bechne ke liye."

"Thik hai. Yeh lo," Tasha said, handing him some money under the table.

Nandu smiled, winked, and said, "Phir milenge."

He left and Purvi said, "Yeh toh sach main bahut acha hai. Chalo yehi baatein sab ko batate hain."

*****

Special Investigations Unit, CID bureau, 2:30PM

Vivek dialled the next number. The SIU team had pulled the phone records on Inspector Anil to find out how far he was involved in the matter. They had also found a name Raghav, the person that Anil contacted the most, and had gotten his phone records as well. They were now going through each number to find out where it led. So far apart from Raghav there was no other number on Anil's phone that stood out. And Raghav's phone wasn't turning up much either. Apart from Anil's number there was nothing else that had stood out yet.

Vivek hung up in anger and said, "Sir yahan koi bhi number kuch bhi nahi bata raha hai."

"Sir Anil ka ek aur number mila hai," Anushka said, coming inside.

"Uske records pull karao," Dushayant said.

"Ji sir. Lekin inhe records se milega kya?" Pankaj asked.

"Inke saath ke logon ka pata chal sakta hai," Dushayant replied.

Anushka got on the phone with the phone company to get the records for the new number that she had gotten. As she had been searching for any numbers that had been bought by Inspector Anil she had come across this one. Now it was time to check if there was anything that would bring any names forward from this other number.

Aditi said, "Ek baat samjh nahi aayi. Agar Anil ke paas ek number tha toh usne doosra number aapne naam pe hi kyun liya? Kisi aur ke naam pe kyun nahi?"

"Shayad usse laga hoga ke woh kabhi nahi pakda jayega," Dushayant replied.

"Yeh bhi ho sakta hai ke usne bewakoofi ki," Pankaj said, jokingly.

Anushka hung up and a few minutes later the printer came alive and the phone records started coming out. After 10 papers printed, the printer stopped and Anushka took the papers and brought them over. The 5 divided those sheets and started going through them. As Vivek checked the first 2 pages he said, "Sir isme ek number aisa hai jisse main pehchanta hoon. Lekin yaad nahi aa raha hai ke kahan ka hai."

Dushayant picked up his personal cell and said, "Number do."

Vivek recited the number and Dushayant dialled it. Then he waited. When the number connected he said, "Kya main Dilawar se baat kar sakta hoon? Main uska bhai Altaf baat kar raha hoon...Kya?...Kahan ka number?...Kya?!!...Acha sorry. Shayad usne galat number de diya tha."

Dushayant hung up and said, "Yeh Yograj Khanna ke office ka number hai."

"Main office yah uske undar ke office?" Vivek asked.

"Main," Dushayant replied.

"Lekin sir yahan pe toh calls kum se kum 10, 15 minute ke hote hain. Koi bhi main office main 10, 15 minute baat kaise kar sakta hai bina pakde?" Aditi asked.

"Yani undar jaata hai call?" Anushka asked, confused.

"Pata nahi. Lekin agar minister ke kam pe phone kaara jaata hai toh unhe bhi pata hi hoga," Dushayant said.

"Aur agar nahi pata hai toh phir koi bhi ek minister ke office phone ka istamal kyun karega?" Vivek wondered.

"Taki suspicion minister pe jaaye," Dushayant said. "Chalo yeh baat sir ko batate hain. Phir wahan se aage dekhenge."

*****

All teams, CID bureau, 2:45PM

Purvi and Tasha came back into the bureau and the first thing Purvi said was, "Hum sab ke cases connected hain."

"Yeh tum kaise keh sakte ho?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Sir hum log abhi mere ek informer se mil kar aaye hain. Uska kehna hai ke Anil uss gang se connected hai jo bache kidnap kar raha hai. Uska yeh bhi kehna hai ke Anil ek aise minister ke liye kam kar raha hai jisse hamara hi Anti-Corruption team investigate kar rahi hai," Tasha replied.

"Aur humne already yeh connection toh bana hi diya hai ke shayad Nirmala aur Chaya isli maare hain kyun ki woh yeh case investigate kar rahe the," Purvi said.

"Kavin tum log kaunse minister ko investigate kar rahe ho?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Yograj Khanna. Hume lagta hai ke woh ek corrupt minister hai. Uske saboot dhoond rahe hain," Kavin replied.

"Ek minute. Yeh toh wohi naam hai jo hamare investigation main saamne aaya hai. Anil ka ek aur number mila hai aur iske office ka number tha uske uss number pe," Dushayant exclaimed.

"Yani Anil aur Yograj ek doosre ko jaante hain. Yah nahi. Aur Anil iss gang ke head ko jaanta hai. Raghav," Vivek said.

"Aur hume pata chala ke Nirmala aur Chaya kisse milne gaye the," Abhijeet said, coming in with Freddy and Priyanka.

Freddy said, "Sir woh log Anil se milne gaye the."

"Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Anil police station main bhi tha jab Ashok report likhwane gaya aur wahan bhi khoon karne ke liye?" Rajat asked.

"Ashok ne shayad kuch jhoot bola hai. Kyun ki hume pata chala hai ke 8 baje uss construction site pe ek police car aayi thi. Wahani paas main ek chaiwala hai. Usne dekha tha. Humne Anil ki tasveer dikhayi toh uss chaiwala ne kaha ke wohi aaya tha wahan," Priyanka replied.

"Ek minute. Abhi confirm kar lete hain. Ashok ne kaha ke Nirmala aur Chaya 8 baje kisi se milne wale the aur woh kareeb 9:30 baje Thane station pauncha report likhwane jahan woh Anil se mila," ACP Pradyuman said.

"Yeh ho sakta hai. Kyun ki woh construction site Thane station se 10 minute ki doori pe hai. Agar Anil khooni hai toh woh araam se 8 aur 9 ke beech khoon kar sakta hai aur wapas Thane station bhi jaa sakta hai. Dr. Salunkhe ne toh kaha hi tha ke dono 8 aur 10 ke beech maare hain," Abhijeet said.

"Waise ek baat hai. Yograj Khanna aur Inspector Anil ek doosre ko jaante hain. Kyun ki Yograj ke personal phone pe ek number aisa hai jisse hum abhi tak trace nahi kar paayein hain. Woh number Thane station main hi rehta hai zada tar. Woh Anil ka ho sakta hai," Viren said.

"Anil ke ghar se kuch mila?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Bahut saare SIM cards," Freddy replied, showing the evidence bag.

"Yani hum sab ke cases connected hain. Yograj Khanna Inspector Anil ko jaanta hai," Daya started.

"Aur Inspector Anil Raghav ko," Rajat added.

"Aur Raghav ek bachon ka racket chalta hai," Asha said.

"Aur unhe bachon ke baare main Bachpan Bachao sansta ko pata chal gaya. Uss sansta ke do meheliyan, Nirmala aur Chaya, Inspector Anil se milne gaye aur maare gaye. Shayad Inspector Anil ne hi maara," Abhijeet finished.

"Lekin ab hume kisi taran se Raghav ko Yograj Khanna se connect karna aur ache taran se evidence lena hai," ACP Pradyuman said.

"Hamare paas yeh saboot hai ke Raghav aur Inspector Anil connected hain," Vivek said.

"Aur hamare paas yeh bhi saboot ho sakta hai ke Inspector Anil aur Yograj Khanna connected hain," Viren said.

"Hume Inspector Anil ke khooni ko dhoondna hai. Woh hume Raghav aur Yograj ke beech ka connection de sakta hai," Kavin suggested.

"Yograj agar kisi ko marwana chahega toh itni asaani se pakda nahi jayega," Dushayant said.

"Haan woh yeh kisi contract killer se karwayega. Yah phir Raghav ke through bhi karwa sakta hai," Sachin said.

"Kyun naa hum Raghav aur uske aadmiyon ko pakde len aur unhe bachon ko bacha len? Phir Raghav hi batayega ke woh Yograj Khanna se kaise connected hain," Tasha suggested.

"Lekin agar usne kuch nahi bola toh hum Yograj Khanna ko bhi kabhi nahi pakde payenge," Vineet said.

"Toh phir uske khilaaf saboot akhta karke usse pakde lenge," Aditi said.

"Yehi karo. Raghav aur bachon ko wahan se nikalo," ACP Pradyuman agreed. "Aur Viren, tum aur tumhari team saboot dhoondte raho jo Yograj Khanna ko undar karke rahe."

"Waise maine contract killing ka search toh kiya hai. Lekin abhi tak mere kisi informer ne kuch bataya nahi hai," Daya said.

"Pure informer network ko activate kar do. Sab aapne informers ko kam pe laga do. Koi kuch toh jaanta hoga," ACP Pradyuman said.

*****

Homicide + CWC + SIU, CID bureau, 3:30PM

The 15 officers were getting ready to attack Raghav and his gang. Purvi asked, "Kab attack karenge sir?"

"Tasha tumhare khabri ne kya kaha tha?" Abhijeet asked.

"Kis baare main?" Tasha asked.

"Ke bache kab kahan hote hain?" Abhijeet asked.

"Sir usne kaha tha ke kareeb 6 baje sab farmhouse wapas paunch jaate hain. 12 baje gharak aate hain aur 1 baje tak chale jaate hain. Aur subah 6 se 7 baje ke beech sab phir se nikal jaate hain," Tasha replied.

"Boss hum log gharak ban ke jaate hain. Phir araam se ghus jayenge aur halla bol denge," Daya suggested.

"Hmm...aisa hi karte hain. Kum se kum aaj ke raat toh woh bache bach jayenge," Abhijeet agreed.

"Lekin tum logon main se gharak kaun kaun ban ke jayega?" ACP Pradyuman asked.

"Main idea doon?" Dr. Salunkhe asked, coming inside.

"Haan bata Salunkhe," ACP Pradyuman said.

"Abhijeet, Daya, Sachin, Dushayant, Kavin, aur Rajat. Baki sab bhar se hamla karna," Dr. Salunkhe said.

"Arre Salunkhe tu kab se hamara kam karne laga?" ACP Pradyuman asked, cocking his head in a teasing tone.

"Boss main toh idhar yeh final forensics ke reports dene aaya tha. Bas tumhari baatein suni aur isli aapna idea de diya," Dr. Salunkhe said, laughing.

"Acha de. Aur ab aisa hi karenge," ACP Pradyuman agreed.

Dr. Salunkhe handed the files to ACP Pradyuman and left. ACP Pradyuman said, "Ab yehi karenge. Abhijeet, Daya, Sachin, Rajat, Kavin, aur Dushayant tum paancho gharak ban kar jaana aaj raat ko. Aur hum baki sab bhar intezaar karenge. Phone se connected rahenge. Aur jaise hi tum log signal doge hum sab halla bol denge."

"Sir kya hume Bachpan Bachao ke logon ko bhi saath le lena chahiye?" Asha asked.

"Nahi," Sachin said.

"Kyun?" Abhijeet asked.

"Sir Ashok bhi toh mila ho sakta hai. Aakhir usse pata tha ke Nirmala aur Chaya gaye huye hain aur phir bhi aadha ghanta aur intezaar karta raha isse pehle ke police ke paas gaya," Sachin said. "Aur siddha police ke paas gaya. Ek baar dono ke phones bhi nahi try kiye."

"Ho sakta hai. Ho sakta hai. Abhi ke liye Bachpan Bachao ko kuch nahi batao. Sab kuch khatam hone ke baad batayenge," ACP Pradyuman agreed.

"Thik hai sir. Hum tyari karte hain," Abhijeet agreed.

*****

Anti-Corruption, CID bureau, 4:30PM

"Abhi 6 AM ho rahe hain Cayman Islands main. Phone karne ka phaida hai?" Kajal asked.

"Try karne main kya jaata hai?" Lavanya said. "Tumne hi toh kaha tha."

Lavanya dialled the number. They were still trying to find where Yograj Khanna's black money was. Meanwhile, Viren, Kavin, and Sudhakar had gone out to find the connection between Raghav, Inspector Anil, and Yograj. They were hoping that they would be able to find a witness who may have seen at least Inspector Anil and Yograj meet. They still didn't know what Raghav looked like so they couldn't exactly ask about him as of yet.

Lavanya got lucky for a second time when a live person picked up the phone. She said, "Yes hello. I'm actually calling from India. Mumbai CID to be exact. I needed some information. I was looking to see if there was any account under any of the following 3 names. Yograj Khanna, Vinita Khanna, or Akash Khanna...Yes I understand that's it early morning, but it would be quite late here as well if I waited the entire 10 and a half hours for 9 AM to strike there...Okay I'll hold...Yes? No I just needed to know if you have an account under one of these 3 names and if you can send a photo if you do...Okay thank you."

"Kya huya?" Kajal asked.

"Dekh rahi hai. Apparently uske paas access hai," Lavanya said, shrugging.

"Well maine yeh saare phone records check kar liye hain aur isme Inspector Anil ke saath toh baat hoti hai. Mujhe ek number mil gaya hai jo Anil ke ghar se mile huye SIM cards main se ek ke saath match karta hai. Lekin koi Raghav connection nahi mila hai abhi tak," Kajal said.

"Yeh bhi toh ho sakta hai ke Raghav ke paas bhi multiple SIMs ho," Lavanya said.

"Ho sakta hai. Waise bhi yeh saare SIMs prepaid hain. Koi naam nahi hai inpe. Bas isli pata hai ke yeh Anil ke hain kyun ki uske fingerprints hain inpe aur kyun ki yeh uske ghar se mila hai," Kajal said.

At that time the receptionist came back on the line. Lavanya turned her attention to the phone, "Yes...You do? Great! Can you send me a photo?...Yes my email address is lavanya@cid.mumbai.in.com...Okay thank you. Bye."

Lavanya pulled up her email and waited. As soon as the email came through she opened it and was immediately shocked to see the photo. She said, "Kajal mil gaya."

"Kya mila?" Kajal asked, coming over.

She looked at the photo in surprise as well. She asked, "Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Naam kya tha account pe?"

"Yograj Khanna. Lekin yeh toh Inspector Anil ki photo hai," Lavanya exclaimed.

"Aur yeh iske saath kaun hai?" Kajal asked.

The photo was of 2 men. One was Inspector Anil and the other was unknown. Kajal answered her own question, "Shayad koi dost hoga. Lekin yeh bank ne aise kaise do logon ki photo le li?"

"Arre yeh Cayman Islands hai. Isli toh le liya," Lavanya replied. "Chalo yeh sir ko dekhte hain."

*****

All teams, CID bureau, 4:45PM

ACP Pradyuman looked at the photo and said, "Pata karo ke Anil ke saath jo kam karte the woh iss doosre aadmi ko jaante hain ke nahi."

"Sir ek baat samjh nahi aaye. Waise toh yeh Yograj Khanna hai. Account bhi aapne naam pe khola. Lekin photo di Inspector Anil ki. Isse toh unhe dono ke connections establish hote hain. Aur woh bhi aapne paate pe," Lavanya said.

"Kuch log bewakoofiyan kar jaate hain," Asha said, simply.

"Iske account ke details niklwao. Agar warrant ki zaroorat paare toh woh bhi nikalo," ACP Pradyuman said.

"Main Anil ke kam pe jaata hoon," Vineet offered.

"Main chalti hoon tumhare saath," Lavanya said.

"Aur main uske padosiyon se milti hoon," Kajal said.

The 3 left the bureau.

*****

CWC + Anti-Corruption, Thane Police Station, 5:20PM

Vineet and Lavanya showed the photo to the second Inspector in the station. He checked it and said, "Arre haan isse toh main pehchanta hoon."

"Kaun hai yeh?" Lavanya asked.

"Umm...naam yaad nahi aa raha hai," the Inspector said.

"Lekin abhi toh kaha ke pehchante ho," Vineet said.

"Haan pehchanta hoon. Yeh yahan pe kafi baar aaya hai Anil se milne. Naam...Anil ke moun se suna tha ek baar," the Inspector said, thoughtfully.

Vineet and Lavanya waited and then he burst out, "Raghav! Yehi hai iska naam!"

"Kya? Raghav? Kya tumhe pura yakeen hai?" Lavanya asked.

"Haan," the Inspector said.

"Thik hai," Lavanya said.

She and Vineet looked at the photo again. Then they left the police station. Outside Vineet asked, "Yeh kuch zada hi asaani se nahi mil gaya?"

"Ho sakta hai. Lekin ek baat nahi samjh aa rahi hai. Yograj Khanna ne Anil aur Raghav ki photo kyun di?!!" Lavanya asked, in shock.

"Ab ek baar saare records aayein tabhi pata chalega," Vineet said.

*****

All teams, CID bureau, 8:10PM

After some quick working, the team had finally gotten the warrant and sent it to the Cayman Islands. Now they were just waiting for the records to come through. Lavanya was on the phone with someone in the Cayman Islands. She got them to send the entire bank records and records of the updates made on the account since it was opened.

The CID bureau printer came on and the records came through. After they all printed, Vivek picked them up and everyone started going through them. Abhijeet, Daya, Rajat, Sachin, Kavin, and Dushayant had gone off to get ready so that they wouldn't be recognized.

Purvi was the first to find something. She said, "Sir yeh dekhiye. Iss account main ek picture update huya tha dus din pehle. Tab yeh picture di gayi thi."

"Isse pehle kaunsi pic thi? Pata chal sakta hai?" Freddy asked.

"Main poochti hoon," Lavanya offered.

She was still on the phone. Freddy was examining the bank records with Vivek. The 2 noticed the same thing at the same time. Freddy pointed it out though. "Yeh dekho. Iss account main dus din pehle dus lakh nikale gaye aur ek doosre account main transfer kiye gaye."

"Main yeh account number check karta hoon. Yeh ICICI ka number lag raha hai," Vivek said.

Lavanya said, "Inke paas abhi pehli picture hai. Yeh woh picture hai jo account kholne ke waqt di gayi thi."

The printer came on and the picture came out. Purvi picked it up and said, "Yeh toh Yograj ki hi photo hai."

ACP Pradyuman took the photo from Purvi and nodded. He said, "Matlab kisi ne dus din pehle photo change ki taki Anil, Raghav, aur Yograj ke beech ka connection mil jaaye. Aur shayad 10 lakh bhi transfer kiye. Lekin kahan?"

"Sir inhe warrant chahiye isse pehle ke woh hume naam batayenge," Vivek said, holding out the phone.

ACP Pradyuman took the phone and said, "Haan. Dekhiye hamare paas itna samay nahi hai ke hum aapko ek warrant laa kar den. Agar humne zada intezaar kiya toh ek bahut baara gang hamare haat se nikal jayega aur yeh sab aapki wajah se hoga. Hume sirf naam aur pata chahiye. Aur ek photo. Bas...Haan. Thik hai hamare fax machine pe bhejiye."

He gave the phone back to Vivek who recited the fax number. A few minutes later the printer spit out 2 pages. Purvi picked them up and said, "Yeh ek Raghav ka account hai. Aur yeh dekhiye sir. Iss account pe bhi wohi tasveer hai jo Yograj ke Cayman Islands wale account pe tha."

Purvi showed the photo to ACP Pradyuman. It was the photo of Inspector Anil and Raghav. Vivek was already on the phone again. He asked, "Kya yeh photo shuru se iss account pe thi yah badli gayi hai?...Shuru se thi. Acha thank you."

Vivek hung up and said, "Yeh photo toh shuru se thi."

"Sir aisa bhi ho sakta hai ke kisi ne yeh photo dekh li ho kisi taran se aur isse lekar Yograj ke account main dal diya aur phir uske account se iss account main paise transfer kiye taki connection ban jaaye," Freddy suggested.

"Kya yeh pata chal sakta hai ke iss account ko kahan se khola gaya tha?" Viren asked.

"Unke paas records toh honge hi. Lekin uske liye toh warrant ki zaroorat paregi," Asha said.

"Toh warrant banwa lo," ACP Pradyuman said. "Tab tak Raghav aur uske gang ko pakdana hai aur unhe bachon ko bachana hai."

*****

All teams, Panvel farmhouse, 11:40PM

Apart from Asha, Tasha, and Purvi, everyone was here. Asha, Tasha, and Purvi were still in the bureau trying to find out who had gotten into Yograj's account and made the transfer. They were also trying to figure out if someone else had entered Raghav's account.

The good thing was that they now had proof that Raghav, Inspector Anil, and Yograj Khanna were connected. But they still needed to prove that the proof wasn't fake and thus were checking all the details.

ACP Pradyuman asked, "Tum sab tyar?"

This was directed at Abhijeet, Daya, Rajat, Sachin, Kavin, and Dushayant who were all dressed in different ways. Abhijeet and Daya were disguised as taporis. Rajat and Sachin had taken on a businessman look. Kavin was in disguise as a traffic constable and Dushayant was in disguise as a director. The 6 nodded. Vivek said, "Sir do aadmi abhi undar gaye hain. Shayad khul gaya hai."

"Thik hai. Chalo. Dheere dheere undar jao," ACP Pradyuman said.

The 6 nodded. Abhijeet and Daya went first. They walked into the farmhouse and a few moments later everyone heard their voices on the earpieces.

*****

CWC, CID bureau, 11:50PM

Purvi put the phone down and said, "IP login details aa rahe hain."

The printer came alive and the sheets came out. The 3 sat down with them. These were the IP logs of Yograj Khanna's account in the Cayman Islands. They already had the IP logs for Raghav's account from ICICI Bank. Tasha circled an IP number on the first page. She said, "Dus din pehle ek alag IP address se login huya tha account main. Warna abhi tak saare IP numbers ek hi hain."

"Number batao. Main dekhti hoon ke kahan ka hai," Asha said.

Tasha recited the number and Asha brought up the IP address. She said, "Yeh ek internet cafe ka number hai."

"Yograj Khanna ek internet cafe se aapna account dekhega?" Tasha asked.

"Mujhe nahi lagta hai," Purvi said.

"Ab problem hai ke hum check bhi nahi kar sakte hain ke kisne access kiya tha yeh account internet cafe se," Tasha said.

"Kar sakte hain. Kyun ki aaj kal kafi internet cafes main sign-in aur sign-out karna parta hai aur woh bhi saare IDs check karne ke baad," Asha said.

"Toh phir iss internet cafe ko check karna hi parega. Kyun ki Raghav ke account ko bhi ussi internet cafe se access kiya jaata tha kabhi kabhi," Tasha said.

"Itni raat ko internet cafe khula hoga?" Purvi asked.

"Khula hoga. Aaj kal most internet cafes 24 x 7 khule hote hain," Tasha said.

"Toh chalo. Iss internet cafe ke 10 din pehle ke records ko dekhte hain," Asha said.

*****

All teams, Panvel farmhouse, Wednesday, 12:01AM

All 6 officers were now inside. Now the rest of the team was waiting outside for the signal. ACP Pradyuman asked in his earpiece, "Tyar ho?"

There was no reply for a few minutes then Abhijeet gave the signal, "Chalo ab undar chalte hain."

That meant that everyone was currently accumulated in one spot. That was all the officers needed as they rushed forward to attack.

Viren, Sudhakar, and Vivek were at the front. They rushed at the doors and slammed it open at top speed. Then the other officers all rushed in and before anyone could react, they were surrounded. At this time, Abhijeet, Daya, Rajat, Sachin, Kavin, and Dushayant revealed themselves.

Two men tried to run at this point, but the team was faster. As one man ran past Abhijeet and Daya, the two stuck out a foot, which he tripped over. Then Daya hauled him to his feet as Abhijeet asked, "Kidhar chale paji?"

Daya replied, humorously, "Eh ki praji. Tussi toh bhagne ke firak main ho? Aapne chacha tou se mil kar nahi jaoge?"

"Daya, Daya, Daya bechare ko pareshan maat karo. Ab pehli baar aapne chacha tou se mil mila hai toh thoda toh pareshan hoga," Abhijeet said.

The other guy was caught by Kavin who had also stuck a foot out to trip him. But Kavin didn't let him get up. Instead he put a foot on the guy's back and said, "Ab tum thodi deer yahani raho. Achi jagah hai tumhare liye."

As the male cops held the 5 men and 5 women inside the farmhouse, the women cops transported the kids from the farmhouse to the bus they had brought for the kids. This had been ACP Pradyuman's decision, not because women cops were weaker, but because children often took to women faster than men.

*****

CWC, Rocky Internet Cafe, 12:20AM

Tasha had been right to think that some internet cafes are open 24 x 7. And thankfully this applied to Rocky Internet Cafe. When the 3 had arrived here 5 minutes ago they had been assured full cooperation almost immediately. Now they were waiting to see the records from 10 days ago.

Payal, who was working at the front desk at that time, said, "Acha yeh mil gaya."

Tasha, Asha, and Purvi came around. Payal stepped back as Asha took over. She asked, "Time kya kya the?"

Tasha looked at the paper in her hand and replied, "Yograj ka account 4:30 access huya tha."

Asha checked the records to see that there had been 10 people in the cafe at 4:30. She took a printout of the records for 4:30. She asked, "Aur koi time?"

"Haan Raghav ka account 5 baje access huya tha," Tasha said.

Asha checked the records for 5 PM and saw that out of the 10 people only 3 were the same and had been here at 5. Purvi said, "Ma'am inhi 3 main se koi hoga aapna aadmi."

Tasha asked, "Kya tum log ID check karte ho yah yunhi check kar dete ho ke ID check kar li hai?"

Payal said, "Ma'am har ka alag hai. Yahan pe kuch log aise kam karte hain jo check nahi karte hain."

"Uss din jo tha woh check karta yah karti hai?" Asha asked.

"Mujhe zara dekhna hoga ke uss din aur uss waqt kaun tha. Ek minute," Payal said.

She took the computer again and pulled up a schedule. She said, "Uss din Raj tha. Raj check karta hai. Woh toh kabhi kabhi spot checks bhi karta hai ke ID asli hai ke nahi."

"Yani yeh teeno asli main woh hain jo inhone kaha hai," Purvi deduced.

"Inhe main se ek ka naam Ashok hai," Asha said. "Aur address bhi wohi hai jo Ashok ka hai."

"Yani Ashok yahan pe dus din pehle aaya. Usne pehle Raghav ke account ko hack kiya aur wahan se photo utari. Phir usne Yograj ke account ko hack kiya aur wahan pe photo lagayi aur 10 lakh Raghav ke account main transfer kiye. Phir usne phir se Raghav ke account ko hack kiya aur pata nahi kya kiya. Aur phir yahan chala gaya," Tasha said.

"Aur chalaki dekho. Yahan pe pure do ghante raha. 4 baje aaya aur tab pehli baar Raghav ke account main gaya. Phir 4:30 baje Yograj ke account main. Aur phir 5 baje Raghav ke account main," Asha added.

"Iss Ashok ko pakdana chahiye ma'am. Yeh hume batayega ke isne aisa kyun kiya," Purvi said. "Lekin isse toh hamare paas jo bhi saboot the jo Raghav aur Yograj ko jodte hain woh khatam ho gaye."

"Nahi. Abhi hamare paas doosre saboot bhi hain," Asha said.

She picked up the papers she had printed and the 3 left the cafe.

*****

Homicide, CID bureau interrogation room, 8:10AM

After resting for a little while, the team was back and running. They had updated each other on the proceedings and now had divided into 2. CWC had gone out to bring Ashok in for questioning, while Abhijeet and Daya were in the interrogation room interrogating Raghav in their style. The doctors and Anushka and Aditi were with the kids in the forensic lab for a complete check-up.

Abhijeet circled Raghav and demanded, "Sach sach batao! Yeh racket kab se chala rahe ho?"

"Agar jhoot bolonga toh tum log kya mujhe phansi pe chada doge?" Raghav asked, sarcastically.

"Boss yeh yun kuch nahi bolega. Doosra tareke hi aapnate hain," Daya said.

"Haan thik hai. Nikalo," Abhijeet agreed.

"Kya karne wale ho tum log?" Raghav asked.

There was no fear in his voice. It was just a question. But the two didn't reply. Instead Abhijeet got busy playing with some wires as Daya brought out a small bucket and went into a side door to fill it with water. Raghav said, "Jo bhi karoge soch samjh ke karna. Warna mere connections tumhe nahi chorenge."

"Connections," Abhijeet scoffed. "Bol toh aise raha hai jaise kisi minister ke saath dosti ho."

Daya came back out and added, "Nahi boss. Minister nahi. Khud Prime Minister iska dost hai."

"Prime Minister nahi Yograj Khanna mera dost hai. Woh mujhe bachayega. Dekhte rehna. Usse ek baar phone lagao," Raghav said, over-confidentally.

"Acha? Woh tere jaise tat punjeye ko kyun bachayega?" Daya asked.

He and Abhijeet exchanged glances. Unknown to Raghav, they were recording everything. Now they had proof straight from Raghav's mouth with which they could arrest Yograj Khanna. No minister had been sentenced in Indian history, but this one would be. Raghav scoffed confidentally, "Kyun ki woh mere ko bahut achi taran se jaante hain. Mere dost hain. Mere business partner hain."

"Acha? Business partner? Yani woh bhi iss child kidnapping aur prostitution main involved hain?" Abhijeet asked, rather curiously.

"Haan!" Raghav exclaimed.

Then he bit his tongue as his face fell. He realized what he had said and tried to correct it. He said, "Nahi...mera matlab hai..."

"Rehne do," Daya interrupted. "Humne sun liya jo suna tha. Ab tumhare partner ko bhi tumhare saath laa kar khada karte hain."

Abhijeet and Daya left even as Raghav kept sputtering.

*****

SIU, CID forensic lab, 8:20AM

Dr. Nyla came out and said, "Inhe paanchon ladkiyon ke saath kafi samay se log zabardasti kar rahe hain. Paanchon ke sharer pe bahut nishaan hain torture ke."

Anushka and Aditi were sitting outside the lab, while the 4 doctors were with the kids inside doing a full medical check-up. Dr. Nyla had just finished hers. Her face was stony, a rarity. She was obviously angry at what she had seen. Dr. Anjalika was next. She looked ready to kill someone. She said, "Unki halat bahut buri hai. Jisne bhi inhe paanchon ke haat kaate hain woh koi professional nahi hai. Inhe hospital lekar jaana chahiye. Ho sakta hai infection ho gaya ho. Professional attention ki zaroorat hai."

"Kya aap yeh bata sakte ho ke inke haat kab kaate gaye honge?" Anushka asked.

"Zada se zada do yah teen mahine pehle," Dr. Anjalika replied.

"Aur jinhe che bachon ko maine examine kiya unke saath bhi kuch aisa hi huya hai," Dr. Salunkhe said, also coming out.

"Yeh log iss gang ko pichle 6 saalon se chala rahe hain. Aur inhe bachon ke haat aur ped zada se zada do teen mahine pehle kaate gaye the. Yeh shuru se toh inke paas nahi ho sakte hain. Toh jo bache inke paas shuru main the woh kahan gaye?" Aditi asked.

"Aditi aise gangs yah toh bachon ko maar dete hain jab woh koi kam nahi rehte hain. Yah kisi aur sher ke gang ko bech dete hain. Yah overseas bhi bhej dete hain," Dr. Salunkhe replied. "Saare bache shayad kabhi nahi milenge. Lekin kum se kum yeh bache toh bach gaye."

"Kaash hum kuch aisa kar sakte jisse yeh sab hamasa ke liye band ho jaata," Anushka said, with a sigh.

No one replied to that. They all wanted to do that, but they knew that this was one trade that would probably go on forever and the more they tried to stop it, the farther it would spread. Dr. Niyati also came out. She said, "Maine jinhe paanchon bachon ko dekha hai woh bas thode se bhuke aur pyase hain. Unhe khana aur pani toh diya jaata tha lekin bahut kum. Sirf itna ke unhe main energy rahe."

*****

CWC, CID bureau, 8:40AM

Sachin and Vineet pushed Ashok into a chair. He looked around and demanded, "Mujhe aise yahan kyun laaya gaya hai?!!"

"Tumse kuch baat karni hai," Asha replied.

"Toh wahan bhi toh baat ho sakti thi. Matlab office main," Ashok said.

"Yeh baat sirf yahani ho sakti hai," Tasha replied.

"Kaisi baat?" Ashok asked.

"Yeh jaana chahte hain ke tumne Yograj ke Cayman Islands account aur Raghav ke ICICI Bank account ko kyun hack kiya aur Anil aur Raghav ki photo Yograj ke account main kyun dala?" Sachin asked.

"Maine aisa kuch nahi kiya," Ashok refused, immediately.

"Hamare paas saare saboot hai. Tumne jis internet cafe se yeh sab kiya tha wahan ke employees ne tumhe pehchaan liya hai. IP address match ho gaya hai. Aur tumhara naam aur pata register main hai," Purvi replied.

The first part was a lie but no one needed to know that. Ashok nodded and agreed, "Fine. Kiya tha. Maine sab kuch kiya tha."

"Kyun?" Asha asked.

"Mujhe, Nirmala, aur Chaya ko pata chal gaya tha ke Inspector Anil, Raghav, aur Yograj Khanna mile huye hain. Humne sab kuch khud plan kiya tha taki hum unhe logon phasa sakhen," Ashok said.

"Toh phir tumne Nirmala aur Chaya ke missing report Inspector Anil ke paas kyun likhwayi?" Sachin asked.

"Hamare saathiyon ne kaha tha. Unhe abhi tak sab kuch nahi pata hai. Isli karna para," Ashok replied.

"Aur Nirmala aur Chaya ko kisne maara?" Asha asked.

"Pata nahi. Shayad Anil ne hi maara hoga. Nirmala aur Chaya usse milne jaa rahe the," Ashok replied.

"Yeh baat tumhe pata hai?" ACP Pradyuman asked, incredulously, coming out.

"Haan. Lekin bata nahi paaya kyun ki yeh baat ka koi saboot nahi tha mere paas. Aur aap log phir yeh baat ko question karte ke mujhe kaise pata hai," Ashok replied.

"Haan karte. Lekin agar tum bata dete toh kum se kum Anil aaj zinda hota aur hamare paas hota," ACP Pradyuman said, angrily.

"I'm sorry," Ashok apologized.

"Tumhare sorry kehne se Anil zinda ho jaata hai kya? Kya Nirmala aur Chaya ke khooni ko saza mil jayegi?" ACP Pradyuman demanded.

Ashok hung his head and was taken away.

*****

Homicide, Outside Yograj's office, 9:20AM

Daya, Abhijeet, and Freddy were sitting outside Yograj Khanna's office waiting for the warrant. At this time Daya's phone rang. He picked up, "Haan bol Topi."

Freddy and Abhijeet hid a laugh at the name. Daya didn't notice as he was listening to Topi. He said, "Acha thik hai. Woh abhi kahan milega?"

Daya listened again and then nodding said, "Thik hai. Wahan pe thodi deer main kuch log paunchte hain."

He hung up and said, "Boss Nirmala aur Chaya ko Inspector Anil ne hi maara tha. Aur Anil ko maarne wala ek contract killer Sapu hai. Rangreela Bar main hai."

"Rajat ko bata do. Woh aur Priyanka usse pakde layenge. Waise yeh kya naam hai? Topi? Aadmi topi pehen ke ghumta hai kya?" Abhijeet asked, smiling slightly.

"Nahi. Woh topiyan bechta tha. Drugs se bhare. Tab se uska naam Topi paar gaya. Do saal pehle usse pakda tha. Usne dhanda chor diya aur mera informer ban gaya. Lekin abhi bhi kabhi kabhi natak karta hai jaise business kar raha hai taki usse information milti rahe," Daya replied, dialling Rajat's number.

After telling Rajat about Sapu, he hung up. Freddy asked, "Sir kya Justice Singh hume warrant denge?"

"Denge. Humne unhe saare saboot toh dikhaye the. Unhe dena hi parega," Daya replied.

"Yeh lo. Mr. Khanna bhi aa gaye," Abhijeet said.

They all looked out as a car pulled up to the office and Yograj Khanna stepped out. He slammed the door shut and walked into his office. As if by some coincidence a government car pulled up behind his car at that moment. A man got out, looked around, and then walked over to their Qualis. Abhijeet rolled down his window and the man handed a paper saying, "Justice Singh ne yeh warrant bheja hai."

Abhijeet opened it and read through it and then gave a triumphant glance to Daya and Freddy. He waved it and said, "Arrest warrant for the Honorable Yograj Khanna."

"Chalo. Iss Mr. Honorable ko Mr. Unhonorable karte hain," Daya said.

The man left and Daya brought the car around in front of the office. The 3 got out and walked into the office. In the main office a secretary looked up and said, "Aap log kaun hain?"

"CID," Daya replied, producing his badge.

"Aapki appointment hai?" she asked.

"Ma'am hume appointment ki zaroorat nahi hai," Daya replied.

Even as she protested, the 3 walked past her into the inner office where Yograj was on the phone. He looked up and demanded, "Kya badtameezi hai yeh?!! Nisha!"

"Nisha ne hume rokne ki koshish ki thi lekin rok nahi paayi. CID," Abhijeet said.

"Kyun ki hum yahan pe official business pe aaye hain," Daya said. "Mr. Yograj Khanna you're under arrest."

"Kya bakwas hai yeh?!! Main abhi"" Yograj exclaimed angrily.

But before he could say anything else or do anything else, Freddy put the cuffs on Yograj and then the 3 took him out of the office. As they were leaving, Yograj yelled back, "Nisha mere lawyer ko phone karo aur CID bureau bhejo! Abhi!"

*****

All teams, CID bureau, 9:50AM

Yograj Khanna wasn't speaking, but then he didn't need to. The team had put the whole case together in just 2 days with enough evidence to put Yograj away. Now they recounted it so that they could file the case in a proper format.

Asha started, "Okay toh pichle che saalon se Raghav aur uski gang Mumbai se bachon ko kidnap kar rahi hai aur yahani unhe bheek mangwa rahi hai aur saaman bechwa rahi hai."

"Teen saal pehle Inspector Anil bhi jud gaya iss sab se taki police support milti rahe. Aur shayad uska boss bhi iss main shamal hai," Dushayant added.

"Iss waqt pe Raghav ne prostitution ka racket bhi shuru kar diya," Asha said.

"Teen saal tak inka kam maze main chalta raha. Aur inke paas political support bhi thi. Yograj Khanna ke roop main," Viren said.

"Lekin phir teen mahine pehle Bachpan Bachao ke teen volunteers ko do bache mile. Aur unhone aapni investigation shuru ki," Sachin said.

"Unhe sab kuch pata bhi chala lekin kabhi koi saboot nahi mila unhe," Tasha said.

"Tab Ashok ne ek game khela. Usne Yograj aur Raghav ke bank accounts ko hack kiya aur dono ke beech connection banaya," Purvi said.

"Lekin isse pehle ke woh aur kuch kar paate Nirmala aur Chaya maare gaye. Aur unhe marne wala shayad Inspector Anil hi hai," Abhijeet said.

"Phir Inspector Anil bhi maara gaya. Aur Sapu ka kehna hai ke usse supari dene wala Anil ki patni hai," Rajat said. "Woh bhi arrest ho jayegi."

"Iss sab ke beech hume Anil ke ghar se bahut saare SIM cards mile jisme ek Raghav se usse connect karta hai aur ek Yograj se," Daya said.

"Aur Raghav aur Yograj ke beech ka connection bhi mil gaya phone ke wajah se," Freddy said.

"Ek baat samjh nahi aayi. Iss racket se zada paise toh ban nahi rahe the. Toh phir Yograj ne aise racket ko back kyun kiya? Agar bahut paise ban rahe hote toh baat kuch aur hi hoti," Priyanka asked.

"Priyanka iss racket se Yograj ka naam underworld main bhi famous ho jaata hai. Doosre gangs ko agar political support ki zaroorat hogi toh woh Yograj ka naam pehle sochenge. Usne iss racket ko paison ke liye nahi naam ke liye back kiya hai," ACP Pradyuman replied.

"Toh kya yeh sab bas yahani khatam? Hume saare sawalon ke jawab kabhi nahi milenge?" Tasha asked.

"Nahi Tasha. Aise cases main bahut kum jawab milte hain," Dr. Salunkhe said, coming in.

He had brought the final report on all the examinations they had conducted.

"Toh ab?" Purvi asked.

"Toh ab agla case," Abhijeet said, smiling.

And with that the teams divided up again to move onto the next case as Vineet finished typing out the case report that they would file in court.

*****

Notes

I make mention of a couple of people in the beginning scene from different shows. To help you better understand, here is a complete list of the people I mention and the shows they appeared in.

• ACP Ajaatshatru - CID Special Bureau, Sony TV, 2005 - 2008
• ACP Ajay Desai - Special Squad, Star One, 2005 - 2006 (Note: I made Ajay into ACP. Technically the ACP during the show was Aryan Khanna but because they killed him at the end I can't bring him back from the dead. Also Deepika and Shaina were said to have left after and during the show, respectively, that's why Ajay is the ACP.)
• ACP Arjun Suryakant Rawte - Arjun, Star Plus, 2012 - 2014
• ACP Manoviraj Singh - Zindagi Badal Sakta Hai Hadsaa, Zee TV, May - August 2008

You may ask why I made a couple of CID officers alive. Well I just wanted to. That's the short explanation of it. Technically I could have made Aryan (Special Squad) alive as well, but I didn't want to shuffle around with all that. Making CID officers alive is different than making another show's cop alive. LOL Also I have the power to make anyone alive again. Devil laugh

As I said before, this idea came to me while watching CSI. Actually in a few episodes they would divide the team and there would be 2 teams working on cases. Once they ended up bringing both teams together when it turned out both cases were connected. That is where the idea of making 4 separate teams and bringing them together came from. Everything else is my own creation.

I tried to avoid making any loopholes, but I think there may be one or two. Do forgive me. This was my first try to bring so many characters together and I realized today how hard it is. But hopefully I didn't mess up the teams. That would be a big mistake.

It's sounds interesting sri..waiting 4 d story😛

Waiting for the story Shreya.

waiting for the story di..

its very Interesting..