Overpower

'Did you commit this crime?’ Sourav sir asked Harshal, who sat across him on a chair.

‘Yes, sir, I accept the charges,’ he said.

‘Are you working under someone’s direction or are you acting on your own?’ sir asked.

He did not reply.

‘You killed a young and an innocent girl. Police will ensure the court awards you with extreme punishment for this murder.’

Harshal looked lost and concerned. He went down on his knees and begged the police inspector to get him off the case.

‘Why should I let you free? The court will judge you and do justice to the girl you drove to death,’ said the inspector.

‘Sir, Raghu Raj had asked me to do all this,’ Harshal confessed to the inspector.

Sourav left the room where Harshal was being questioned. He came and sat on his desk. He looked at one of his subordinates and said, ‘Pratap, find out where is MLA Raghu Raj.’

Raghu Raj was the national convenor of Rashtrivadi Party. He was a politician, a social activist and above all a notorious person.

He was born in a middle-class family. He studied at Hisar. When he was studying for Electrical Engineering, he discovered his taste for politics and followed his instincts. He actively participated in the Jan Lokpal Movement along with famous social activist, Hansika Mehta.

His participation in the movement launched him in the political arena. He was noticed for his enthusiasm and keen interest in the political domain. He worked as an active socialist for few years and then launched his own political party in the year 2007. He called it Rashtrivadi Party. His main plank was ‘Corruption Free India’.

The party came into prominence quickly. It started working among the backward sections of the capital city. It gained traction and in a short time became a force in the electoral politics.

Over time, Raghu Raj became known for his strong-arm tactics. His name surfaced in certain number of incidents related to violence. The number of cases registered against him steadily went up.

In political circles, he has acquired an unsavoury reputation of harbouring criminal elements. They are his hatchet men and do his bidding. There are, however, some localities where his popularity is high. The locals there admire him. His detractors say he doesn’t deserve all this.

He is suspected to be involved in eve teasing, sex rackets, gun running, drug peddling, rape, kidnapping, extortion, human trafficking and such other offensive activities. There are some activists who comment on him on social media, but it does not deter him from his activities. No one comes forward to give evidence against him and he is let off by the courts for want of evidence. In political circles, he is considered a threat to good governance if he wins the forthcoming elections.

‘Where is he?’ Sourav sir asked.

‘He is in Dubai. He has gone there to attend a conference,’ replied the officer.

‘When will he be back?’

‘He is arriving home tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.’ ‘And when is the case coming up in court?’ ‘Day after tomorrow,’ officer replied.

‘Ok. That is perfect. Let’s get to work,’ Sourav sir said. There was a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

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This is for the Passengers travelling by the Etihad Airways. The flight plying from Dubai is delayed due to some technical reasons. The new time of arrival of this flight is 11:00 a.m. Any inconvenience is highly regretted.

‘Sir, we have to wait for him,’ the officer informed Saurav sir. ‘Yes, we will have to,’ sir nodded.

The flight arrived as per the revised time. MLA Raghu Raj completed his arrival formalities and came out of the airport exit. His supporters had come to the airport and gathered at the exit gate to receive him. When they saw him, they surged forward to welcome him. The police were also present there. Saurav sir stepped forward and stood in front of the crowd. He confronted Raghu Raj and informed him that he was being taken under arrest.

‘Hey…What are you doing?’ Raghu Raj protested.

Sourav sir showed him the arrest warrant issued by the court. Police arrested him and took him inside their jeep between two policemen and drove away.

On reaching the police station, two policemen escorted him out of the jeep and took him to the custody cell inside the police station.

Raghu Raj was protesting, shouting and screaming. He was abusing and threatening the police officers. The police were however firm in their action, and they pushed him behind the bars and locked the thick iron gate.

‘This is the place for the person like you,’ Sourav sir said.

‘You are making a big mistake, inspector. You will suffer for this. You will regret your actions,’ Raghu Ram warned and threatened the inspector.

The police had recorded the statements of Harshal Kansal and Brijesh Khanna. All the documents concerning the case were ready for Raghu Raj to be produced in the court the following day