Part 1
"Sir! Rachit's body has been found near the lake at the border of the village." Pawar informed Malhar over the phone.
"Ok Pawar, I'll arrange to send the forensic team and the medical examiner immediately and be there ASAP. Make sure no one goes near the body. No evidence should be disturbed. As it is we may not get much." Malhar instructed.
Malhar had immediately called his team and the forensic experts to gather whatever evidence they would be able to find. He reached the site and examined the decomposing body. The police had taken the statement of the person who had found it. The body was sent for an autopsy as per procedure.
Back in his cabin, Malhar sank into his thoughts. "How did Rachit's body end up at the lakeside?" "Something was not right. If Rachit had died due to Mai's shot, his body would have been recovered either at the base of the cliff where he had fallen off or atleast between the dense bushes and trees surrounding the area. The body recovered from a place other than the crime site itself was suspicious enough for him to draw a conclusion that definitely there was someone else involved."
Malhar began linking points in his mind. When he had reached the site where Rachit had been shot by Mai, he had precisely seen Mai holding a gun and a bullet slashing through Rachit after which Rachit had staggered to the edge and fallen off the cliff.
As the police team had not been able to recover the body at that time, they had not been able to determine if the bullet which had shot Rachit had been from the gun Anupriya was holding but he had not seen any other suspicious person lurking there either.
Now he was sure there had been someone else there who had killed Rachit after he had fallen off the cliff. He was sure that Mai would be proved innocent once the autopsy and forensic reports arrived and they got to know the real cause of Rachit's death.
"Was it a personal enemy of Rachit who had just found it convenient to dump his body there?" Malhar was getting impatient.
As though reading his thoughts, the medical examiner Dr Sharma called and Malhar got there as soon as he could and went to the coroner's office.
"Hello Dr Sharma, what does your report say?" he asked.
"ACP Rane, a bullet has been retrieved from the body but that was not the cause of his death. It was just lodged in his body and did not enter his spinal cord. There are multiple injuries and abrasions on his body as he rolled down the cliff."
"So, Dr Sharna, if the bullet did not kill him, what's the cause of death?"
"The cause of death is a blow to his head. His skull has been severely damaged. and been hit with a heavy metal object. It was a blunt force trauma which causes instant death."
He was probably tied up and beaten before the final blow as there were rope marks around his torso, hands and legs. There were also marks of being belted.
"Were you able to determine the time of his death?"
"No ACP, it is difficult to give an exact time as 72 hours have passed and the body has begun to decompose. Furthermore, it has been in the water."
"Thanks Dr Sharma please send your official report ASAP."
"Will do."
On his way back to the police station, Malhar called Sarthak. "Kaka, there is hope that Mai can be released soon. Prepare for the next hearing in court which is after two days."
Two days later, once again the members of AN had gathered in the court. Anupriya was brought in. Everyone rose and there was a heavy silence as the judge walked in and took his place. Malhar had submitted a copy of the coroner's report and the bullet retrieved from Rachit's body as evidence. The ballistics report confirmed that the bullet was indeed from the gun that Anupriya had held but there was enough proof that it had not killed Rachit.
The person who had found the body near the lake and Dr Sharma were asked to testify and their statements were recorded. Atlast the judge was convinced that the murder weapon was not the gun which Anupriya had fired and he announced that Mrs Anupriya Rane was not guilty and she would be released from police custody with proper documentation. The judge further ordered the police department to continue their investigation to find the real culprit.
All the family members heaved a sigh of relief. Malhar was glad that Mai would be back home and Kalyani would become her cheerful self again. His Kaka, whose face had lost its charm, would smile again.
Anupriya was glad to be back home with her loved ones. She had missed Kalyani and Sarthak too. She knew he had felt let down by her stubbornness to surrender herself. She had been upset with herself that she was capable of taking a life. Before going to sleep she promised herself that she would take the effort to mend her relationship with Sarthakji. For the first time in the past three days Anupriya slept peacefully knowing that she had not killed a person even for self defence.
Malhar was glad that Mai was back home where she belonged and her innocence proved. He had to begin the investigation by delving into Rachit's life before he landed in Aurangabad.
Kalyani who entered the room saw him lost in his thoughts. She felt bad to see the lines of worry on his forehead. "Malharji I'm sure we'll find out who did this. Don't worry I'll help you."
"Not we Kalyani, me and my team will do this. Whoever is behind this seems very dangerous and I don't intend to endanger your life."
"But…..I want to help you with the investigation."
"Kalyani, you can do your part by recollecting all the little details about Rachit, his family, his friends… any sort of information that may be useful."
"Ok…"
"Please assure me that you will not venture out by yourself trying to find out something and end up putting yourself in danger."
"Trust me Malharji, I won't do anything of that sort but sometimes my ideas are better….."she said cheekily.
A smile creeped to his face, "Yes they are but it's better if you share them with me and let me do my job without worrying about your safety. Trust me Kalyani, I'll not take credits for your work."
Kalyani rested her head on his shoulder. "Let's sleep now. You look so tired."
…..continued…...
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