Rahul Banerjee

Crime

3  

Rahul Banerjee

Crime

Murder Of An Artist

Murder Of An Artist

17 mins
232


Adil Khan was a world-renowned artist and painter. He lived in the posh area of Pali Hills of Mumbai. He was a 55-year-old man, a widower and had no children. There was just one maidservant Komal, and his driver, Raju, who were his companions and helpers. They were fiercely loyal and protective of their master, mind you! He was still handsome and despite his age, he had a pleasant personality. People loved his work because he dealt with issues and matters which were largely ignored or overlooked. His art was liked even internationally and he had portrayed his art in many famous galleries and art shows. You would all this talent and success would make anyone arrogant and prudish. Here you are wrong, Adil was the most humble person and everyone who met him had a nice impression of him.


Right now, he was showcasing his work on Tribal Children of Madhya Pradesh at one of the art galleries in Mumbai. The unique aspect of his art was that all of them contained messages which you could not ignore. This was the most beautiful aspect of his work. Moreover, he used simple colours to depict the real-life everyday struggles and hardships of life, but with a very positive tone. It meant that no one ever felt depressed, serious or gloomy after seeing his work.


“Wow Adil, your work is simply brilliant.” Anand, an art connoisseur remarked.

“Yes, his work always evokes hard messages but with simplicity and amazing beauty.” Another one remarked.

“How can you depict such hard realities with such positivity?” asked Rakesh, an art gallery owner.

Rakesh was the owner of the art gallery in which Adil’s art was being displayed and they had a long-standing relationship in this aspect.


“It is because of all you people that I get a little bit of attention and it's all god’s grace,” Adil replied with a soft smile on his face and with folded hands.


“This is another aspect of Adil which makes me a fan of his. His modesty and honesty.” Said Rashmi Sen, one of the prominent art journalists who had come to cover his show. Some even speculate that Rashmi had been desperately in love with Adil but he was not interested.


“Yes, but he doesn’t want to work with me, I don’t know why?” This came from Suraj, another art gallery owner.

Suraj and Adil had a falling over some issue in the past and this had embittered their relationship and both had gone their separate ways. Though Suraj still wanted Adil to work with him.


Now, all these people had come to a party which was thrown by Rakesh after the successful display of Adil’s work. There were many big celebrities at the party. So, naturally, the media was there in full swing to cover this grand event. Some people were great admirers and followers of Adil Khan; while there were some, who were rivals and intensely jealous of his fame and success. The thing was that they managed to keep their emotions completely hidden and mingle with the crowd. One such person was Aman Walia. He was another art gallery owner and a once somewhat successful painter. He had left his artistic talent in favour of the business side of the earnings he got from that talent.


It was also said that Aman and Adil had been close friends but then something happened that ended their friendship and Adil never talked with Aman as before. Aman, on the other hand, was trying to convince Adil to join him in a special project in which Adil was not at all interested.

Another person of interest in the party was Snigdha Verma, a public relations manager and former lover and manager of Adil Khan’s work. They had a huge break-up and tiff which was discussed widely in the media a few years back. Now, they were just acquaintances and met and greeted each other cordially as it generally happens.


So when Aman congratulated Adil he was rather cold and thanked him in an off-hand manner. Naturally, this was demeaning and outrageous for Aman but he kept quiet about it and gave a smile on his face which was completely put up. Wouldn’t you be affronted by this attitude?


A few days later, Adil had a visitor at his home.

“You again?” asked Adil, not wanting this conversation or the visitor.


It was evident that Adil did not want to talk to this person.

“Won’t you even show the normal pleasantries as you used to like earlier? Asked Aman entering with a smile.

“You know very well what kind of relationship we have right now,” Adil said in a serious tone.

“Yes, but that’s past now and we can start once again,” Aman said.

“Well, you are the most selfish, self-centred guy I have ever met. You only think of the financial side of things.” Adil replied with disdain.

“That I may be but what about the proposal I kept in front of you?” Aman impatiently asked.

This was another reason why their friendship had broken.

“ I have told you a thousand times that I am not interested in your proposal. Now can you please let me work?” Adil replied in an agitated tone.

“Won’t you reconsider?” Aman tried one more time.

“No,” Adil replied.

“Okay, your wish, you will regret this sometime later.” Aman departed with this last remark.


The next day, Komal as usual came to Adil’s residence for her daily chores. She rang the bell but there was no response. She again rang the bell..... Again there was no response.

“ This is odd!” Thought Komal. “As Adil sahaab usually opens the door in the second ring.”

She rang the bell for the third time still no response.

Now she grew worried and called Raju.

“Raju, sahib is not answering the door.” She complained.

“Wait I will call him,” Raju replied.

When Raju called Adil called him there was again no response. He called 3-4 times still there was no response.

Now, both Raju and Komal grew worried and concerned for his safety. Komal slightly pushed the door and it came open ajar!

Both of them were surprised. How can this be? Adil sahib never forgot to lock his door.

Anyways, both of them entered trepidatiously into Adil’s flat. They called out for him but still, there was no response. At last, Komal entered Adil’s bedroom and screamed. Raju came running after hearing her scream. He was stunned and shocked at what he saw!


Both of them saw Adil lying in the bed with his eyes open, not breathing. Raju went near him and tried to shake him gently but Adil’s hand came limply into his hands. Raju felt for a pulse and realized that Adil had been dead for quite some time now. Komal once again screamed and fainted.

Raju immediately called the police and Adil’s friends and relatives informing them of the tragedy.


Inspector Pratap Thakur was a contradiction in character. He was a jovial and happy-go-lucky kind of a guy at one moment; in the next instance, he was dead serious and got into the role of a crime fighter. He was also philosophical and was known to give philosophical quotes at odd moments.

Tha’s why when he got the call, he said “ Kalakaar ko jo maar sake, use bada kamzarf koi ho hi nahi sakta.”


As he reached the crime scene he saw that there was a huge crowd of curious onlookers gathered outside Adil Khan’s house. All of them murmuring amongst themselves.

“He was such a nice person.” One said.

“How can anyone think of committing this dastardly act?” another one remarked.

Anyways, Inspector Pratap Thakur dispersed the crowd and formed a perimeter around the crime scene. Inside the house, he saw Raju, Komal, Rakesh, the art gallery owner, Rashmi Sen, the art journalist, Suraj, another art gallery owner, Aman &

Snigdha. All of them looked shocked and in grief. Snigdha was wiping a tear from her eye, and so was Rashmi.

Inspector Pratap Thakur “ who saw the body?”

“We did sahib.” Komal and Raju replied.

“I came to work at the usual time around 8:45 a.m,” Komal informed Inspector Pratap Thakur.

“I kept on ringing the bell but there was no answer. Then I called Raju.” She further stated.

Raju nodded his head and said “I tried calling him 3-4 times, again, there was no answer. Then we decided to enter his house as we found the door was slightly ajar.” Raju added.

Inspector Pratap “ what do you mean the door was slightly ajar? Was it not locked?” He asked.

“No sir.” Both of them replied.

“What did you do then?” Pratap asked.

“I saw that sahib was lying on his bed with eyes wide open. I gently tried to nudge him. But when there was no reaction I felt for his pulse. It was when I found that there was no pulse then I panicked and called you and everybody.” Raju answered with a bowed head and in a shaky voice.

“What kind of man was he?” Pratap asked.

“He was a very nice, honest, caring and kind man sahib.” Komal and Raju replied.


Then Inspector Pratap Thakur looked at the others. He asked for their introductions and their relationship with the deceased.

All of them answered in their way; some quickly, some slightly in a hesitant manner, like Suraj and Aman. While Snigdha and Rashmi replied in a quavering and shaky voice. Rakesh was the worst affected of all and he was crying openly in front of everyone.

“What kind of relationship you had with the victim?” asked Pratap.

“He was not only my friend but he was more like a brother to me,” Rakesh replied.

Inspector Pratap conducted further interviews with the rest of the people and sent the body for an autopsy.

“All of you are requested not to leave the city till further investigation and please cooperate when we call you for further questioning.” Inspector Pratap added.

All of them nodded their heads.


Inspector Pratap came out of the interviewing process with the distinct impression that someone was lying.


Anyways, in a few days, the autopsy report came back that Adil Khan was smothered with the pillow of his bead. As fragments of fibre had been found in the respiratory tract. This was news to Inspector Pratap. This also led him to believe that someone close to Adil must have gained access to his house and done this deed when he was either sleeping or was caught off-guard.

He then called Komal and Raju the next day for further questioning.

“Who had access to Adil Khan’s house apart from him?

“Both me and Komal had a couple of extra keys in case of emergency sahib” Raju replied on behalf of both of them.

“Where were you at the time of the murder?” Pratap asked Raju.

“I was in my hut sahib. You can ask anyone.” Raju replied.

He then called Rakesh, Snigdha and Rashmi and interrogated them separately again.

“I have heard you and Adil Khan were ex-lovers. Is that right?” He asked Snigdha.

“Yes, that was a long time ago. Anyways, we parted on amicable terms and were now good friends.” Snigdha replied. Inspector Pratap raised his eyebrows quizzically but chose to keep quiet at this moment.

“When was the last time you saw him alive?” He then asked.

“At the time of the party as everyone else,” Snigdha replied.

“Do you have access to the deceased’s house? Inspector Pratap asked pointedly.

Snigdha at first, looked at him with raised eyebrows. As if she was indignant or something.

“That is something personal.” She replied.

“It’s a case of a murder investigation, ma’am. There is nothing personal here.” Inspector Pratap reminded Snigdha.

“Yes, but I rarely used it anymore.” She replied.


He then interrogated Rashmi and Rakesh.


Both of them had then’ similar kinds of answers and both did not have access to Adil Khan’s apartment.

Inspector Pratap Thakur again had a distinct feeling that someone was lying through his teeth. Though, he had his suspicions about Snigdha and Raju as both of them had access to Adil Khan’s apartment.


The investigation continued in the following days and the Police Department was working on the clues. Even the media was interested in who could have been the killer of such a famous personality?


On the other hand, after a few days, Snigdha was tense because of her past connections with Adil Khan. She decided to call Rakesh, Suraj and Aman all together and ask them what did the police think of who might be the killer?

“Guys have you given it a thought that who might have killed Adil?” She asked the guys directly after meeting them in a coffee shop the next day.

“We have been wracking our brains over the same thing Snigdha, as you have been.” Replied Rakesh.

Snigdha was not very satisfied with this answer. She could distinctly feel the discomfort amongst Suraj and Aman.

She then asked the inevitable question which everyone was dreading.

“Did any of you guys have had anything to do with his murder? She asked bluntly.

At first, all of them were taken aback by this sudden brazen question. Then Suraj said “How can you even think of this?

“We have all known each for a long time. And we were all Adil’s friends, right?” Aman said.

“You have had confrontations with Adil,” Snigdha said looking pointedly at Aman.


“Yes, we have had our differences. But who here has not had at some point some tiff with Adil?” Aman countered.

“Even you had a huge fight and break-up after that fiasco, remember?” Adil further asked.

Snigdha knew what he was getting at. She and Adil had a big argument and fight with one of the projects they were handling at the time and this was the reason also for their breakup. But that happened a couple of years ago. Snigdha had nothing to say.

“Exactly my point, all of us have had our differences with Adil, but we all loved him dearly.” He added. Snigdha was still not satisfied with their answers and came back with a lingering doubt.


Meanwhile, Komal was one day, on her roué tine chores as usual at the same place where Adil had lived. When she saw something strange. She saw that the door to Adil’s apartment was open wide despite the Police line warning anyone not to cross! She thought who could have gone to sahab’s apartment now and for what purpose?


She nervously entered the apartment and searched the rooms. Then she saw someone whom she recognized. “You!” She exclaimed.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

She got no reply from the intruder.

“Wait till call the Police. Leave the apartment right now.” She demanded of the intruder.

But the intruder just smiled at her and brandished a knife at her.

Komal got scared and as she turned to run she was stabbed from behind viciously and brutally. She immediately fell to the ground. She wanted to scream for help but no sound came out of her mouth. The intruder then went on stabbing her incessantly and violently.

Komal could feel the blood seeping the life out of her. In a few moments, there was nothing just darkness in front of her eyes. Now, what would happen to her family was the only last thought on her mind as she was enveloped in darkness.


One thing I forgot to tell you is that Raju, the driver had a major limp in his right leg. It was due to some childhood accident and it was evident on all the CCTV camera screens that even Inspector Pratap had seen it. He had meanwhile put all of them under discreet surveillance. That is Rakesh, Aman Rashmi, Suraj, Snigdha and Komal all were under police surveillance without their knowledge. When the news of the murder of Komal reached Inspector Pratap, he was taken aback but not surprised as he had a definite answer as to who might have been responsible. He was shocked because he wanted to question Komal a bit further.


The media now were playing frenzy on all the news channels reporting about the murder of a poor housemaid. There were panels of experts describing the killer as a psychotic serial killer. The Police department started feeling the heat to solve the mystery.


While all of the major players were shocked and stunned to hear about Komal’s death. All of them gathered and discussed who could have killed the poor, simple woman?

“The same person who killed Adil” Snigdha replied.

“What do you mean Snigdha?” Rashmi asked indignantly.

“You mean one of us killed Adil and now this poor woman Komal?”

“How can you even think of it?” She asked.

Snigdha did not say anything and remained quiet. The rest of the guys all kept quiet.


The investigation continued for a few more days. When inspector Pratap was sure that he had got his killer, he decided to make his move. After carefully rechecking all the evidence, surveillance reports, and video footage, he decided to call them for a final meeting the next day at the Police Station.


All of them arrived early than expected except one person. Inspector Pratap knew this and was expecting this. He started the meeting when that person arrived and apologized for arriving late.

“I am sorry I am late. I was caught in something.” Rakesh said.

“No worries Mr Rakesh we have just started.” Inspector Pratap knowingly smiled and replied.

Rakesh was a bit surprised at this but kept quiet.

“Now all of us here and we all loved Adil Khan, right?” Pratap asked looking at everybody.

His particular attention was on one particular person. All of them nodded their heads.

“Okay, after very careful scrutiny of the forensic report, the video footage, the surveillance reports, the police have concluded as to who might have killed Adil and now, this poor Komal.” He said this with finality and looked at everybody.

All of the people were curious and anxious and some were a bit uncomfortable. Inspector Pratap smiled.

“Who is it?” Snigdha asked.

“Yes please, who killed my dear brother?” Rakesh piped in.

“Well, the police have found evidence that Raju is the killer.” He stopped and looked for reactions.

“Sahab, what are you saying? I could not even in my worst nightmare think of harming my sahib, who was very kind towards me.” He pleaded.

“It was this kindness you wanted to take advantage of .” Pratap countered.

“You had the access to Adil’s house and you went in demanding more money. When Adil refused you smothered him with his pillow.”

“Not only this, you killed Komal because she caught you stealing something from Adil’s house afterwards.” Pratap Said.

“No Sahib, all of these are lies. I did not do anything.” Raju wailed.

The rest of the people were stunned and were in too much shock to say anything.

“We have you on tape limping from Adil’s house on the night Adil was killed and also when Komal was killed in the daytime” Inspector Pratap said.

“I have not done anything sahib. I loved Adil Sahab dearly.” Raju cried.

Then Inspector Pratap went in for the masterstroke as he saw someone getting a bit comfortable with all of this unfolding.

“I know you have not done anything Raju. As per the video footage, the man who was seen limping out from Adil’s house on both occasions had a limp on his left leg; while you, limp from your left leg.”

Inspector Pratap was enjoying this. “We have also reason to believe that the man who was seen limping must have been feigning it because inconsistencies have been noticed in his limp.”

“Also, this man had something of prime importance with Adil which he desired desperately.”

“This we have found out from Adil Khan’s diary.”

Now, one person was genuinely in discomfort and it could be seen by everybody.

“So what was so important that someone had to feign limping to blame Raju on both occasions?”

“Right, Mr Rakesh?” Pratap now looked directly at Rakesh.

Rakesh had been feeling uncomfortable all this time. “What do you mean by all this? He demanded loudly.

“You mean I have killed my friend and brother and then again killed Komal. Hah! Ridiculous!”

“That’s exactly what I am saying, Mr Rakesh.” Pratap countered.

“We know that you had gained knowledge of the project which Mr Adil and Mr Aman had been planning and you wanted desperately to have it for yourself only.” He said.

“So you went on the night of the murder to discuss this with Mr Adil. When he refused your proposal, you got enraged and pushed him from behind onto his bed and then started smothering him with his pillow.” Pratap added.

The rest of the people were shocked and at a loss of words.

“You also wanted to look like Raju here did this, so put on a limp.”

“This is all rubbish,” Rakesh replied.

“Is it, Mr Rakesh, Komal saw you enter Adil’s flat after his death and caught you red-handed in ransacking the house looking for the proposal document.” Pratap went on.

Now, Rakesh was genuinely feeling the heat.

“Shall I continue Mr Rakesh?”

“When Komal tried to stop you and threatened you by calling the police; you knew, that she could prove dangerous for you, so you killed her too!” Pratap went on.

“Now, you had to make both of these murders look as if Raju, a poor driver has done this for more money, so you put on a limp. Only, you forgot that Raju had a limp on his right leg whereas you had this supposed limp on your left leg. Am I right Mr Rakesh?” Pratap looked at Rakesh.

“All of this is hard to prove. I will be out in no time.” Rakesh arrogantly replied.

“Not at all, Mr Rakesh. We have you on tape and we have checked your correspondence about the proposal. So we know.” He added with finality.

Now, Rakesh knew that he could not escape anymore and confessed.

“Yes, I knew about the proposal and went to persuade Adil about working together on that. But the fool refused and I knew I could not afford to lose the opportunity. So I got rid of him.”

“When Komal found you rummaging through his papers, she threatened me with the police so I had to silence her as well. I knew Raju had a limp, so I tried to pin both the murders on him.” He finally confessed.


Everyone was just at a loss for words and had nothing to say.

Inspector Pratap Thakur then arrested Rakesh on the charges of murder of Mr Adil Khan and Komal.


His parting words were “ Choose your friends wisely and keep enemies closer at least, they are honest in their actions.”


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