Who Really Steals?

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• 
  

  Chapter 3 Chapter 4

CHAPTER - 1 :

     This was the most amazing case in my life. Yeah I have solved more cases that is even more puzzled but these kids really made this a special case. 

"A new case on the desk, sir", said Wills, my partner. We both are the CBI officers, solved many cases that left the whole department clueless. But this case, right on my desk, seemingly the most confusing, rattled and surprisingly an amazing case, started with the greatest mystery.

"Ok, Wills. Give me what you got?", I said.

"Got only the first report. Still two more reports are on its way", said Williams.

"Yeah, I got no interest on reading it. Just tell me in plain English", I said.

"Sir, I have just gone through this reports. It seems kind of weird", Wills said.

"If it's not weird, then they wouldn't had kept in Vikram's table", I said. Yeah, that's my name, Vikram.

Wills giggled, "Yeah, but it's kind of too much. There are three thefts of same pattern of same style. But that pattern is what is confusing. Three thefts were in Police Minister's house, in Chennai  CBI's head officer, Palaniswamy's house and in a corporate company's owner's residence", he said, "The confusing part is henceforth. This is a report of Police Minister's house. In the theft area, it seems there are 296 finger prints".

"What", I said.

"Wait, the  funniest part is on it's way. All the finger prints belonged to the politicians across the country including the Police Minister's finger print itself. Even the finger print of our Prime Minister is there.", said Wills.

I chukled, "What".

"Yeah".

I looked at my watch. "Alright, bud. I have a meeting right now. About hiring that coders' job. I will come after 30 minutes. Get me those remaining two reports and go through it. I will join you after the meeting", I said,.

"Done, sir".

After the meeting, I went to Wills to see what he has got.

"Alright, Wills. Give me everything", I said.

"It's all the same, same pattern and same style except for the numbers. There were 326 finger prints in our CBI officer Palaniswamy's house, all belonged to the Government officials of different departments. Yeah it included Palanyswamy's finger print too and its funny that even our head officer's finger print is there. In the same way, there were 32 corporate company's owner's finger prints and in no way surprise, it included the corporate company owner's fingerprint too whose house is burgled", said Wills.

I began to think a while, walking here and there.

"Can we look into the amount of money looted?", said Wills.

"No, dude. The details are not there. Amount of money is not what the case is about. Because they are not even burglars by profession. It's about the finger prints", I said.

Wills was blinking.

"Let me tell you what my interpretation is. Whoever is doing this, is trying to tell something, something to the whole country. Who do you think is ruining our nation?", I said.

"I don't know but who do you think is ruining my mind?. It's you sir", Wills said.

"No, Wills, you didn't get it. It's Politicians, Government Officials and the Corporate giants. And by the fingerprints, he's meaning those are the real people who steals the money. I still don't know how did he got those fingerprints but I guess he got something to tell", I said.

"If it's the case, what will be his next move?", Wills said.

"Yeah, my curiosity nervers are waiting for that moment only. Let's see".

CHAPTER 2 :

      For few days, I waited for his next move. But there's no sign of it. I began to lose patience and started to hunt. 

     Then there's a small flick in my mind. I knew the money he looted doesn't matter, as I know he's not into the money. If it's not about the money, what if it is about some sort of revenge. I chose to investigate in this way. 

     Rather than searching for the thief, I began to search for the crimes uttered by these three victims whose residence was looted. I know about the CBI head, the first victim, what he usually does. He used to bribe on hiring people to the CBI department. I asked to Wills to get the list of rejected candidates of the recent coders' job interview and enquire about the Police Minister and their details while I concentrated on the Corporate owner. While probing, I heard the information that the capitalist has got the lands from the farmers of the Brahmapuram village in Vellore. When investigated with those farmers, they said that the capitalist murdered a farmer who refused to hand over the land. Then the farmers were scared to death and accepted the fair they bid for selling their lands and sold their farm fields. I got all the details of the family members whose lands are grabbed.

     Just so that the recent interview in CBI department is for coders' job, I thought what if the guy I am looking for is a coder since a rejected candidate might want to avenge for his job rejection. I began to think in all possible ways how could a coder get all those fingerprints. I began to search for all those resources for finger prints. Then a perfect lead hit my mind. 

"Hey Wills, Got any lists from the Police Minister?", I said.

"Yes, Sir. There's an interview for an IPS selection and he received bribe to select candidates. Here's the list of those who got rejected and here's the list of who got rejected in the coders' job in our department", said Wills.

"Perfect. Alright, here's the list of some families. Check the members of these families across your list and see if any candidates from the IPS selection or the coders' selection was matched against any people from these families. Since no coder has been appointed into our department, I require a software professional. I am going to Aadhar office and once you find a guy, send him there ASAP", I said.

"I will ask my juniors to pick a techie. But, sir, why Aadhar office and why a software guy?", Wills asked.

"I will tell later. But first things first", I said and went to Aadhar office.

Once I went to Aadhar office, I started to finish the formalities to check the server computers. Then the techie, I required, showed up.

"Hi sir, I am the guy sent by your officers", the techie said.

"Oh, hi. I require you to go through these servers and check if these servers were hacked and if the data was stolen", I said.

"That's simple as it sounds. Give me 15 minutes", he said.

After 15 minutes, he turned to me and said, "As you suspected, these servers have high chances to get hacked and the data might be stolen".

"A perfect lead", I snapped, "Is there any chance to find those hackers?".

"That's why the name hackers, sir. They are untraceable", he said, "You cannot find them until they wanted you to". He smiled.

"What", I said, just then a phone call rang. 

"Yeah, tell me Wills", I said on attending the call, "That's perfect. I am on way", I said and turned to leave.

Then I again turned to that techie and asked his name.

"Seenu, sir. It's Seenu", he said and smiled. I smiled back and left off.

At my office, I ran into Wills and said, "What's the lead?", I said.

"I checked against the list IPS rejections. There's no match and I checked the list of coders' rejection and yeah, there's a match", Wills.

"Yeah I know it would. Tell me who's that guy", I said.

"The name is Seenu Aravind Raj", Wills said.

"What?. Come again", I said.

"Seenu, sir. Seenu Aravind Raj", Wills said.

I laughed hard, hard as I could, "Hey Wills, you know who did you send to the Aadhar office?".

"I dunno sir. I asked my juniors to do so. They would constantly use some fellows from outside to do some hacking that was useful in their cases", Wills said.

"The case is closed, Wills. He's the guy, he is the guy who really stole", I said.

"But how, sir?".

"The guy, named by Seenu, Seenu Aravind Raj, has attended the coders' interview and got rejected, not because of lack of talent, but because of the bribe our Head got for selecting the coder and he knows it. That's why he burgled our Head's residence and he imprinted the finger prints of all those random government officials including our Head's finger prints, depicting those were the real looters".

"But how did the finger print thing worked for him?", Wills said,"Wait, he's a coder and you went to Aadhar office . . . . "

"Get there faster, Willy", I said.

"Oh, he hacked the Aadhar server to get those finger prints", Wills said.

"That's my assistant", I said.

"Yeah, may be that's why I am still assistant, getting things slowly", he said with his face little turned down.

I laughed, "Don't worry, my boy. You will get there", I said.

"But why the Police Minister?. The list is not matching with him", he said.

"That's what confuses me. I think he got to answer for it. Quick, Willy, get your juniors, get the details about this Seenu guy and get him and get the case files closed", I said. 

"Yes Sir", Wills said and turned, just then the attender entered and said, "Vikram sir, there's the guy waiting, claiming that he knows about the thief".

"Get him in", I said.

Then after few moments, the guy entered and said, "I was staying in an apartment sir. There's this guy, who is so strange and different. I always thought there's something wrong with him. So one day I snapped into his room when he's not there. There's these posters, marks and pictures about Corporate owner, Police minister and the CBI official. I think he's the accused".

"Do you know his name?", said Wills.

"If I am not wrong, it's Seenu, sir", the guy said.

"Alright, get to his appartment and get the guy and get the case files closed. Steps simplified".

After that, a huge force was arranged with armed, sneaked into the room the guy told and yeah, we got Seenu. He was then brought into the investigation room.

"Hello Seenu, seems like a Marana Coder(Deadly Coder), uh?", I said.

He smiled, "Yeah, may be".

"I really thought that this case would go on for weeks. I never thought this would end so simple just like that", I said.

What he replied, terrified me a little.

"What, weeks?", he laughed so hard, "Vikram ji, this case would go on years, but would never find an end". 

CHAPTER 3 :

"What do you mean?. You said you cannot find you, but here you are, hands cuffed in my investigation room", I said.

I blinked at him, trying to decode his laughs and his words but could find anything hardly until he said this.

"You didn't quiet get me Vikram Ji. I didn't said that you cannot find me", he laughed, "I said 'You cannot find them until they wanted you to find' "

"So you're not alone?", asked Vikram.

"Certainly, not", Seenu said.

"Then, Who's the other one?"

He smiled and opened up his story.

    I am an Computer passionate, a farmer's son, from Brahmapuram village in Vellore. I came to Chennai aspiring to become, not just a computer techie but to serve the nation. You know what is the major curse in a middle class family?. It is that they have no rights to dream. But I, in spite of my family trying so hard to get my little sister married, still risked to be some use to my nation, even though some reputed companies offered me a job with a great pay. Once I heard that CBI department is hiring coders, I took it as a chance to serve my nation, worked hard to crack through the interview.

There was another guy, named Mahesh, a friend of mine, aspired to become IPS officer and for what to serve this not - deserving country. He even deserted his family, who were against his wish of becoming a Police, came to Chennai, stayed with me as a roommate. We used to do some part time jobs, like you would have known by now, I, worked to some officers on some hacking, my friend worked in some hotels on part time, to meet our daily needs. 

One day, the day that should be the light to our hard works, turned out to be the darker day that even changed our minds the darkest.

"You have been escaping me from paying the rent for almost three months. If you don't pay it by today evening, your things will be out here at the doorsteps", our house owner shouted, while we went to our final interviews. Mahesh has completed his physical test and written test, now he's ready to face the face to face interview, while I, too is going to face my final interview.

"All the best, buddy", we said to each other and boarded different buses.

I entered my interview hall, faced your Head officer for the first time. He didn't even looked my file properly and said that I am not quite talented enough to get hired. I was devastated, looking at my files on what goes wrong, really confused, almost tears fell out of me. But this isn't over, the main disaster is yet to come when I went inside an elevator.

"Seems like a confusion on selecting the candidates for coders' job. Our Head has already got the settlement and gave his word to a candidate on his job but this other guy offered a higher settlement for the same job. Don't know who is going to get selected", an Officer said.

"Oh come on, sir. You know our Head is so much strict in the settlement. 'Get me more, I'll get you a job' kind of a guy", the other officer said and laughed.

I was even more devastated, hit hard multiple times and that's not even the end. I went to a park to meet my girl friend

"Hey dear, I didn't get a job, not because of the lack of my talent, but because the Officials are bribed to select those who bid higher", I said.

"Oh come on dear, cheer up, you can always get another job, that pays you more than this job", Kavitha, my girl friend, said.

"But I always dreamt of this job, you know, to serve nation", I said.

"For what?. You can never get this job", she said.

"Why not?. I can try one more time", I said.

"No, Seenu. I cannot wait another year. This is not going to work", she said.

"What do you mean?".

"Our life, you idiot. You can keep on trying and keep not earning money, but I cannot stand", she said.

"So your conclusion?", I asked stressing my words with my ears looking intense.

"I used to drive in the car, sleep in an AC room. I cannot walk or go in bus and certainly cannot sleep under the fan with mosquito bites and . . . "

"I said, get to the conclusion", I said, a litle bit louder.

She sighed, "Yeah, let's break up".

I looked down for a while, not saying anything and then turned my head to her. 

"Oh you're still here?", I said, "Get yourself into your car 'cause there are mosquitoes here, which is biting me hard".

She then, just stood up and went.

"You will see me, Kavitha, living up my dreams, with the whole nation seeing my achievements, while you look all those things in telly with some rich fat husband, you gold digger", I shouted at her.

"Oh, don't make me laugh", she smirked off and went.

Do you think the day is over?. Nope not yet.

"Hello, my son. An important news. Some corporate owner, here in our village, threatened us to hand over the land. He has even killed our Govindasaamy and his family, for not handing their lands over. The villagers feared on their death handed their lands, including us, my son, for some amount of pay. Not yet relieved from the pain of lands being grabbed, our debtors on learning this, grabbed the same money from us. We are struggling hard to get food, my dear. With your sister, unmarried, it's even more harder for us. You will get the job, right?", my dad said on phone.

"Yeah, dad. I will talk to you later", I said and hanged, sobbing, heart broken and all those words describing my distress. The same happened to Mahesh in his interview. The officers were given bribes with the Police Minister getting bribed the highest. But his girl friend, Snehamitra was supportive, said, "Don't worry, one or the other day, I am gonna say I am the girl friend of that IPS officer". Atleast he has someone to lay his shoulders on.

Yeah, still not finished with the day, our things were at the doorsteps when we reached our rooms. We begged our owner, but he didn't even open the doors. We were left stranded in streets. Sneha said to hang on that night and promised us to get the room the other day. 

Do you believe that streets are the most best teachers?. Yeah, it is.

"What do you think the reason for not getting our dream jobs?", Mahesh said.

"Money", I said.

"The reason for your girl friend dumped you?", he said.

"Money".

"The reason for your family's situation?"

"Money".

"And the reason for what we are sitting here?".

"Money", I said.

"Then let's just steal it", he said.

And not because we don't have money, but because to make sure that the world know 'Who Really Steals'.

"Yes sir, the name, Mahesh is matching with the list of rejected candidates in IPS selection", Wills said.

"Oh, Willy, I even know who is Mahesh", I turned to Seenu, "It's the informer, who informed about the whereabouts of Seenu, right, Mr. Seenu?".

"Oh, you didn't give bribe to get this job, uh?. Seems so talented. Lucky for you", he said.

"Alright, Mr. Seenu, you didn't get caught but made us look so. Tell me why. What exactly is your plan?", I said, scrubbing on my lower jaws, excited as hell on the answer, just then my phone rings.

"Answer it. You will get the answer to your question", he said. I, then attended, the call, eye signalling Wills to track the caller's location.

"No need for that. You will get to know", he said.

I placed the phone on my ears.

"Hello Vikram ji, it's your informer, named Mahesh".

CHAPTER 4 :

"Alright, Ji. Let's finish this once and for all. Turn on the speaker", Mahesh said.

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it", I said and turned on the speaker.

"I just made you to catch my friend, Seenu. You might have know this by now", Mahesh said.

"Say something new", I said while tapping the desk with my fore finger

"New?. I can give you that. I have kidnapped the Police Minister's daughter", Mahesh said.

"What", I screamed and banged at the desk, while Seenu laughed hilariously. 

"Stop it you fool", Wills said.

"Oh yeah?", he said and laughed even more.

"If you don't stop it, my fist will do the trick", Wills said.

"Oh yeah?. Come on, then. My hands are cuffed. I'd really like you to try that trick on me", Seenu said with his eyes striking sharp that even Wills backed off a little.

"Yeah, try that on my friend when I try my trick on this hot chick", Mahesh said.

"Wills, back off", I said. Wills hit his back head and went to the corner.

"I know you're not the type of person who could do that to a girl. I know it", I said.

"Oh yes, you're right on then Mahesh. Now his eyes is dark and raging. Don't try me which I really wish for you to", said Mahesh.

"Alright, what do you want?", I said.

"That's the right question. I want you to release my friend, records cleared, evidences turning into ash and get him to the place where you had arrested him", Mahesh said.

"What?. That's it?. I'm hungry", Seenu said.

"Oh Yes. Two biriyani packets too. Even I'm starving", he said and hanged up.

"Did he think we are fools here?", Wills said.

"We cannot do this", I said. Just then, our head of the department entered. 

"I know what is happening. Just do it what he said and get back the girl. High pressures above my head", he said.

"No, Sir. They are not that type of guys. I am sure they won't do as they threaten. They got some other plan and we can't let them do it", I said.

"Do as I said, Vikram".

Just such shitheads, fearing that their bribery things will go into air. I am sick of covering their corrupt face.

I ordered my guys to do as he said. We went to their building and let Seenu off. But what I saw triggered my nerves. That girl and Mahesh were playing chess. Damn it.

"Oh seriously?. Playing Chess?", Seenu shouted.

"Oh no dude, she insisted", Mahesh said.

"Pack off", Seenu said.

"Why are you so moody?", the girl said.

"Oh really. FYI, you're a hostage here. You haven't came here for a trip", Seenu said.

"I hardly think so", the girl said and unwrapped a biriyani packet and started eating.

"Okay. We can share this one packet", Mahesh said. Seenu hit his head.

"Am I a joke to you?", I said.

"Oops, sorry officer. Just wait outside the building. You will hear from us", Seenu said.

I could have barged in, hit those kids and arrest them but I'm curious on what they were gonna do. So, though my fists were burning, I calmed down a bit and went down with my team.

Just then, the media people came crowding and rushing. I know my department wouldn't have called the press. They might have called them. Oh yeah, I figured out their plan. A voice from the speaker popped out

"Hello people of India, 2017's most corrupted Nation in Asia. Where do I start?", Seenu said but with some voice changer, "Alright I got it. Let me tell you a story, a funny story if you will. A citizen, may be a middle aged, trying to access some public services, wants some papers to be signed. The authority on getting a promise from the citizen to get a bribe of 30k, signed the paper as 'Approved'. After hearing that his paper has been signed off, the citizen tried to cheat by not giving the bribe he promised. Learning this, the authority took those paper and wrote as 'Not Approved', yeah adding a 'Not' before it. The citizen then showed up, apologized him and paid him the bribe of 30k. Then the authority ordered the peon to add 'e' and a colon after 'Not', so that it becomes 'Note: Approved'. See, an educated corruption, isn't it?".

All those media people were laughing, even I did.

"Oh you're laughing?. It's funny, isn't it?. It's funny. Alright, let me tell you one another thing. Let's see if it tickles. The three important sections of India, education, healthcare and Judiciary departments annually contributes the corruption amount of", he said and paused, "What the hell is this?. Is this a phone number?. No, it's even more than 10 digits. Alright, I just say as a number one by one while you get the amount. It's Rs. 319725000000. Oh please comment down if you get the amount", he said, "Now, is it funny?. If it is not, let me tell you more of that. Almost Rs. 48,000 crores were just given as bribes by only the trucks and lorry drivers. What if we add up other vehicles, passport verification scam, driving license scam and more and more. 60% of the people fails in driving test and still get the licence. What will be amounted when we take all those accounts on?. Almost 300 lakh crore money was there in Swiss bank as of March 2018 as black money. 62% of the law enforcing officers take bribes. I don't see any balance in the physical or beam balance in the Indian law when the law makers become the law breakers. From, birth certificate to death certificate, it was infected by this virus and is pandemic, widespread in our Nation. It is said that only 40% of the grain intended to reach the poor hits the target. Where is the remaining 60%?. Where is it?. Where do you think it has gone?. And you accused us of stealing the money?. Now, tell me, Who really steals?", Seenu shouted, "You know what is more funny?. We came to this city, dreaming to serve this Nation. But where do we stand now?. As thieves before you?. Who made us to do that?. India really wants youth like us but it is certainly not deserving. Who really painted black in orange, white and green tricolor flag?. These bastards, three bastards where we looted were one among the many corrupt out there. I leave those three people to you, people of India. We may still serve our Nation, but behind the screens and by that, let the talented reach the responsible seats. Jai Hind!", he said, "And don't worry about those money burgled. It went to charity".

He said that and just left. It was only the Minister's daughter there, with those boys left. I smiled a little bit, wanted to salute those kids.

After that, it was unrest everywhere, youth protesting to arrest those three people, Minister, the Corporate giant and my Head. Soon, it happened. I was really happy to handcuff my head. I silently thanked those kids. What do I have to do in return to those kids?.

"Hello kids", I said to those kids. Yeah I found them. They were really afraid, hands trembling, words stumbling. I just laughed. 

"Don't you worry, heroes. Here's a letter", I extended.

"You know there are friends for me in Police Department and with me as a New Head in my branch, here's a little offer to the Heroes of Nation", I said, "Go ahead and read it".

They read, smiled, hugged each other and saluted me. I saluted them back.

"You don't have to serve our Nations behind the screen.You know there are some correct officers too,  you can work with them too", I said. 

When I was about to leave, I turned to them.

"India is, may be, undeserving. But it still needs the youth. Can we give our Nation what we can?". 

Second part of the Who Really Steals >>