It was a silent night, tomorrow morning Sam and me were leaving for Ahmedabad. Since last day or two I was feeling very much uneasy, I guess fear of dying was catching upon me. I wanted to run away – run away from all these problems to a place where I can found some serenity, some armistice of mind. It was already late, but when how can you sleep, when your mind is working overtime. I took out my laptop and searched – Bofors Scandal – These people were accused of being involved therein as well: I selected a link out of hundreds of search result
“The Bofors scandal was a major corruption scandal in India in the 1980s and 1990s, initiated by Congress politicians and implicating the prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi and several others who were accused of receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB for winning a bid to supply India’s 155 mm field howitzer. The scale of the corruption was far worse than any that India had seen before and directly led to the defeat of Gandhi’s ruling Indian National Congress party in the November 1989 general elections. The Swedish company paid 64 crore (US$11.65 million) in kickbacks to top Indian politicians and key defense officials. The case came into light during Vishwanath Pratap Singh‘s tenure as defence minister, and was revealed through investigative journalism by a team led by N. Ram of the newspaper The Hindu. The journalist who secured the over 350 documents that detailed the payoffs was Chitra Subramaniam reporting for The Hindu.
On March 24, 1986, a $285 million (about 1,500 crore) contract between the Govt of India and Swedish arms company Bofors was signed for supply of 410 155mm Howitzer field guns. About a year later, on April 16, 1987, Swedish Radio alleged that Bofors paid kickbacks to top Indian politicians and key defence officials to seal the deal.
The middleman associated with the scandal was Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian businessman who represented the petrochemicals firm Snamprogetti. Quattrocchi was reportedly close to the family of Gandhi and emerged as a powerful broker in the 1980s between big businesses and the Indian government. While the case was being investigated, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 for an unrelated cause by the LTTE. In 1997, the Swiss banks released some 500 documents after years of legal battle. On October 22, 1999 (when National Democratic Alliancegovernment led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power) the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed the first chargesheet against Quattrocchi, Win Chadha, Rajiv Gandhi, the defence secretary S. K. Bhatnagar and a number of others. In second half of 2001, Win Chadha and S. K. Bhatnagar died.
On June 10, 2002, Delhi High Court quashed all proceedings in the case so far. However, this was reversed by Supreme Court of India on July 7, 2003.
Meanwhile the central government changed and Indian National Congress came to power after 2004 Lok Sabha elections. On February 5, 2004, the Delhi High Court quashed the charges of bribery against Rajiv Gandhi and others, On May 31, 2005, the Delhi High Court dismissed the allegations against the British business brothers, Shrichand, Gopichand and Prakash Hinduja, but charges against others remain. In December 2005, Mr B. Daat, the Additional Solicitor General of India, acting on behalf of the Indian Government and the CBI, requested the British Government that two British bank accounts of Ottavio Quattrocchi be unfrozen on the grounds of insufficient evidence to link these accounts to the Bofors payoff. The two accounts, containing €3 million and $1 million, had been frozen. On January 16, the Indian Supreme Court directed the Indian government to ensure that Ottavio Quattrocchi did not withdraw money from the two bank accounts in London. The CBI, the Indian federal law enforcement agency, on January 23, 2006 admitted that roughly Rs 21 crore, about US $4.6 million, in the two accounts have already been withdrawn by the accused. The British government released the funds later.
However, on January 16, 2006, CBI claimed in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court that they were still pursuing extradition orders for Quattrocchi. The Interpol, at the request of the CBI, has a long-standing red corner notice to arrest Quattrocchi. Quattrocchi was detained in Argentina on 6 February 2007, but the news of his detention was released by the CBI only on 23 February. Quattrocchi was released by Argentinian police. However, his passport was impounded and he was not allowed to leave the country.
As there was no extradition treaty between India and Argentina, the case was presented in the Argentine Supreme Court. The government of India lost the extradition case as the government of India did not provide a key court order which was the basis of Quattrochi’s arrest. In the aftermath, the government did not appeal this decision because of delays in securing an official English translation of the court’s decision.
A Delhi court provided temporary relief for Quattrocchi from the case, for lack of sufficient evidence against him, on 4 March 2011. However the case is still going on. Who knows when Quattrocchi, will be punished but even mysterious part is, the Indian mediator who brought Quattrocchi to the contacts of Gandhi Family and Indian Government is still not discovered. Who was that person? What was his motive – Just money or even bigger, endangering the integrity and sovereignty of India? Only time will be able to tell, who else can?” I finally closed my laptop and kept on glowering at the dark black horizon till it colored itself into light orange shades.
“I told you Jaxay – that asshole is working for Pradumna, now tell me, that they were just my theories, probabilistic assumptions.”
“I agree James, It was my mistake. But still he hasn’t given any document to that ACP and he won’t be able to give it.”
“I will f**k that bastard in his own bed.” James vivaciously took his gun out from his pocket
“Stop being stupid James. He is going to Ahmedabad today. And Delhi-Ahmedabad highway isn’t too great, there are so many accidents happening on that route. One more will happen today.”
“He is going by road?”
“His flight is cancelled.” And both of them sneered impishly.
×××
“Morning Sam..!”
“Hey, Morning Nevan.”
“Ready to leave?”
“I am not coming, Jigish sir has given me some another important work, so you will have to go on your own.”
“Oh…!!”
“Yes and flight too is cancelled for the day due to fog and all. So I already had told person at Ahmedabad to get the hearing adjourned for tomorrow. You take the Driver and Car and reach Ahmedabad ASAP.”
“As per your orders boss.”
It was a usual foggy Delhi morning; fog was so dense that you can’t see more than 20ft ahead then you. I took Toyota Innova and Indersingh with me for the drive to Ahmedabad, asked him to ride comfortably, without knowing what was coming my way. As the car drove its way on highway, I just took a little shuteye break, a buzzing cell interrupted it.
“Where the hell are you, Nevan?” Mati was blasting on the call
“I am on my way to Ahmedabad, on Delhi-Ahmedabad highway.”
“In car?”
“Haan…!”
“Ask the driver to stop the f**king car, get out of it.”
“What the hell happened Mati?”
“They have got to know, that you are working for us, dammit. Just leave that f**king car right now.”
“Oh, f**k..! How?”
“Sr. Inspector Abhijeet told them for Five Million Bucks.”
“Bl**dy son of a b**ch..! Inder singh please stop the car.”
“What happened sir?”
“I have some urgent work, you just wait I will be back in ten.”
“You are out Nevan? Nevan? Tell something god-damm-it.”
“Yes Mati, I am here. I have left the car.”
“Me and ACP are already on our way to reach you, where the hell are you?
“I am standing next to Sharda Lodge, on the highway.”
“Stay there only, we will be there soon.”
“Mati, I am messaging you the address of the place, where all the hundred and fifty files are stored. It’s a flat situated on the MG Road. Go there and get the files, no need to come here for me. They are more important.”
“Have you gone nuts Nevan, you are important not the files.”
“What do you think, they will leave me alive till you people reach over here.”
“Nothing is gonna happen to you Nevan.”
“Be Practical Mati; don’t get fooled by the emotions. I am trying to escape somehow. You get to files they are more important.”
“Good then, ACP is going for files. Me and Sr. Inspector Daya are coming to get you.”
“Mati…!”
“No more arguments Nevan. I can’t leave you to die, I Love you and I can’t do that.”
“What?”
“Yes, you heard it correct Mr. Mehta, I LOVE YOU. I never realized that. All that importance I put on you back in our academic days. That tea with you was just a reason to spend some time with you, I was never fond of tea that much. Asking you for every little question of mine weren’t a co-incidence, I trusted that whatever you told was good enough for me. I depended on you for every little decision. I was stupid enough not to realize that you were the guy I always fantasized as my partner.”
“Mati…!”
“Now don’t start with any non-sense Nevan. Don’t tell me there was nothing in between us, we were just friends and you just saw me as a friend. I always knew you liked me but were afraid to tell me your feelings.”
“Yes, I was afraid, I was afraid to lose you as a friend. But this is not the time to discuss all these. We both are married and we can’t be selfish to think only of ourselves.”
“Nevan..!”
“Look Mati, I am hanging up the call now. You go and get those files. Cya – if I will be able to escape alive.” Without even hearing her response, I hung up the call.
The morning had become heavier; I knew they were after me. I wasn’t having any idea on what to do, how to run away. If they managed to crack into ACP Pradumna’s team, it wasn’t any difficult to find me. I just was standing clueless on the middle of cross roads, without knowing where to go. I just started to run, run in the direction where legs were taking me. I had already switched my cell phone off, to cut the contacts with the world I was leaving. I kept on wandering on the highway till late evening, my phone was switched off, I was in no contact with the world I existed in. I ended up being in some little village on the highway, light had already started to fade away a bit, so was my stamina. I was tiring, so I finally took a seat under a huge banyan tree and finally switched on the cell. Some hundred text messages were waiting, as I switched it on.
“F**k you and your people James, you are not even able to find one man.” Jaxay was at the top floor with all senior persons in present there.
“I don’t know where the hell he has escaped. One thing is for sure, he isn’t with that Pradumna as well, even they are searching for him.”
“Search, find him before they could and empty whole cartridge of AK-47 in his ass, is that clear?” Finally Jaxay had lost his composure.
“The moment he will switch his mobile phone on, he will be caught.”
“When but?”
“Here he is, bloody asshole, he switched his phone on. Get going guys.” The little meeting ended with the people rushing to their cars.
I just sat under the tree for a while, then had little walk in the village. There I bought a packet of Biscuits and tea, felt relieved after throwing something into my stomach.
“Where the f**k are you, Nevan? Who told you to switch your bloody phone off?” ACP was almost crying on the call.
“If you cannot save me, atleast I have to save my ass sir.”
“Look, tell me where you are? You can’t save yourself alone, they will catch you.”
“Why, so once again one of your officers can sell that information to those cold-blooded killers.”
“Damm it, Nevan. You have to trust me, you don’t have any other option.”
“Sorry sir, Adios and take care.” I hung up the call.
“This guy has gone nuts Mati, he is not telling me where the hell he is, how we will be able to help him in that case?”
“Don’t worry sir, we have traced this call. He is at the village just one and half kilometers away from where we are right now.” Daya pumped his fists and raced the car towards the traced village, ACP got busy in calling for his forces to reach to the village in no time what so ever.
It was almost a night, sky looked dark black as I lay down on a bench on the highway, there wasn’t much pollution in the air, I was able to have a look at quite a few stars which weren’t visible at the Delhi sky. Since Childhood, I loved gawking at the night sky, full of stars. I was so exhausted of stress and prostration of the day, never realized when I slept on the bench only.
“Good Morning my associate of the year.” A deep and matured voice interjected my sleep. I woke up with sh*t scared out of my ass, it was Jaxay sir.
“What you thought my friend, you will just run away like this and we will let you.”
“I atleast tried.”
“You are such a bright young guy, I hate killing you people. Why you did this, why? Means we were giving enough money and other facilities to you. Why the hell you had to do all these, I rated you very high my bachha and now I will have to kill you.”
“I am not afraid to die, kill me and you will never know where those files are which I copied nor will that ACP know, only home ministry of this country will know that. What do you think; I was alone doing all these.”
“That secret love of yours Ms. Mati, we also will take care of her dear. She looks stunningly beautiful, so special care for her, you don’t worry at all.”
“You people call yourself smart, you dumb asses. Even she doesn’t know where the files are. She too worked with ACP; I am not that dumb to tell her this thing. A person working under you was with me, she was the one who snatched files under your nose and you had no idea what so ever. She will be the one to f**k your assholes. C’mon Jaxay sir, I am awaiting your bullets.”
“He is lying Jaxay, believe me there was no one with him.”
“Shut up James, I know how much I can trust you.”
“So, what you want?” He turned towards me
“Leave me alive and all those files are yours.”
“And what if my answer is no.”
“Go ahead, I am waiting your bullet but tomorrow morning everything starting from Bofors to CWG to MIG-21 will be in the headlines of all the newspapers.”
“F**k you ba**ard.” As Jigish sir said this, bullets started raining from the other side; I guess it was ACP and his mob that were firing. As they turned towards the direction of firing, I gathered all my strength and started running, running and running. As I kept on running, I felt some liquid rolling down my shoulder; I checked with my palm, it was blood. Dammm, I was shot. I tried and gather all my strength once again, but this time around my legs didn’t supported me, my head had just began to spin, I felt my throat was desiccated – I wanted to shout for some help but words weren’t coming out, slowly darkness started to take over my vision, it was all getting blurred. I was able to see some creatures far away – but nothing was discernible. I was in sheer pain, so much pain that I have never ever felt. Slowly, slowly I closed my eyes – it was all dark.
×××
A tranquil early morning on the sea-shore, ocean was busy playing its rhythm. The sound of waves crashing at the shore was comforting for the ears. It was an early morning, sky was still dark except for the very east horizon, and little shades of sun were announcing the dawn was near. While the moon was still visible on west horizon – ever calm and composed, it was going down to let the morning rule over the sky. Not many stars were visible in the sky except for Bright the North Star on the very north horizon; atmosphere out there was more than amusing. It was neither hot nor cold, pleasant wind was flirting with my hair as I was walking barefoot into the sea. Air out there was tasting of the salt and salty were my thoughts as well. The waves coming at the shore were touching my feet and all my pain was reducing gradually. No one was there – not a single person. I was alone with my thoughts, my pain, my feelings and my own self. A little time with yourself and you discover a “YOU” within. I kept on walking- slowly and steadily, ocean’s water had calming effect on my brain. I was walking at a steady pace in my own world, humming a song. All of a sudden I just stood where I was for a minute, closed my eyes. No sound, except for thumping sound of waves trouncing the shore. Little bubbles generated of that trouncing were playing with my toes; I was feeling giggling feel at that moment. I took a deep breath, it was a deep breath as if I wanted to inhale whole of ocean within just with that one gasp. I felt some movement behind me, I ignored the same, I was busy enjoying my own company. A hand came to my shoulder, soft and comforting hand it was. I turned around, it was Mati. She looked stunning in white salwar-kameez. Still her hair-style was that unexplainable and still that tuft came out on her face, playing with little dimple on her cheek, I felt jealous for that tuft.
“Why are you doing this to me, Mati?”
“I have done nothing, Nevan. What have I done?”
“I am a married man now and you too.”
“So what, Krishna too married Rukmani and Radha someone else. Still people remember Radha-Krishna together.”
“He was god.”
“He was human form of the god. Krishna only taught one thing, acceptance. He accepted everything whether it was good or not so good, he still accepted.”
“So?”
“I just want to accept the fact..!”
“Yes Mati, I accept, I loved you. I accept – I was never able to tell that to you – coz I was afraid to share my feelings. I accept that I never accepted this fact, I accept…I accept.”
“I am relived today.”
“In love, never keep the condition of always ending up marrying… Sometimes wonderful love stories continue by just being friends…”
“Yes, Nevan. Look over there, Sharvari is waiting for you. Go there; and I will be on my way too.” As I looked at her pointed fingure, Sharvari was standing with a kid over there. She looked calm, she had always remained calm. As I got my attention back over here, Mati had already started walking in the opposite direction; I was only able to see her back. I too started taking little steps towards my family; they too were waiting for me, since long. As I was about to reach, I heard some more foot-steps on the shore. I turned my attention that side, the sight was scary – Jaxay sir was standing there with a sniper rifle in his hand. He was targeting Mati, He was setting his target on her. I got agitated; I was not able to think what to do. I wanted to run and save Mati, I started to lift my legs but they were like cemented into the land beneath. I tried very hard but I was not able to lift even a single foot of mine. I was like a fish caught in the mud, I started to feel suffocated. I tried to shout but no word came from my mouth, what to do? How to save Mati? Oh god, please save her, please. I just closed my eyes – gathered all my valor together and let a huge roar out…..
“Matiiiiiiiiiii……………………………..!!!” I opened my eyes, I was in a small room, covered by different types of machines. My body was connected with most of them with the wires, beep…beep….beep….beep… was the only sound I could hear. A typical nausea of medicine got into my brain via my nose. In short I was in some hospital. I checked the clock on the wall, 5:50 AM it showed, a nurse came in running. Her face had so many expressions together- shocked, pleased, anxious and scared. She straight away ran out of the room, “Dr. Shah, Dr. Shah… Nevan Mehta woke up… Nevan Mehta woke up, finally after four years. Our efforts have finally showed the colors. He is up.” I heard her shouting. I was stunned, was I sleeping since four years? It just looked like yesterday…..!!
×××
“Oh my god mumma, uncle was in comma for four years?” Vamsi was in the state of shudder as Mati finished telling her the whole story.
“Then what? You met him?”
“No beta, his wife was waiting for him since four years, his son whose even face Nevan hasn’t seen was waiting for him. If I would have got in, it just would have added more complexities.”
“So just after finishing the court proceedings against all of them, I shifted here in Mumbai while Nevan shifted to Shimla. After that we directly met at his home when you and Rudraksh took me there.”
“You liked him na?”
“Very much, but Love is as easy as writing sand on the sand with the sand but as difficult as writing water onto water with the water…”
“C’mon mumma, don’t say that. You already have divorced dad years back and aunty also has passed away a few years back. You both are alone, then why don’t you join your hands now?”
“Don’t be stupid Vamsi, Its bit too late. You are the one getting married, is this my age to do all this.”
×××
The stage was set, guests had already taken their seats, musicians were busy playing wedding tunes on sehnai and tabla, aroma of delicious food was in the air. Vamsi looked stunningly beautiful in her Red and White Panetar. She was all covered with jewellery, her face looked bright. Next to her sat Rudraksh – with ever charming smile on his face. He was looking stud in the turquoise blue Sherwani and matching turban called safo. In a seat next to Vamsi – sat Mati. She too looked gorgeous in her Green and blue colored Bandhani, but her face wasn’t that happy. She looked bit confused, her face was pale; looked like she hadn’t slept for days. It was 12:35; it was the predefined time – muhurat for the hastamelap . As panditji called for the bride and groom to take their hands in that of each-other, I saw a little tear rolled down, Mati’s cheek. I don’t know what came to my mind that moment, I stood up from my seat, reached to Mati, without even uttering a word I took her hand in mine, clock showed 12:35
Mangalam bhagwan Vishnu, Mangalam Garudadwaja, Mangalam Pundrikaksham, Mangalay Tanoharee, Sarva Mangalaya Mangalye, Shive Saharvath Sadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri, Narayani Namostute, Narayani Namostute,
Narayani Namostute.
×××
