Chapter 1: The Case of Mr. Rangaswamy
Date: April 27, 2012
Day: Friday

The Place was Adyar Police station in Chennai.
It was morning 11 O clock. Inspector Pugazhendhi received a Phone call.

Pughazhendhi answered, “Hello”
The Other end said, “Hello, is this Adyar Police Station?”

Pughazhendhi said, “Yes, How can I help you?”
The Other end said, “Sir, My Name is Rangaswamy”

Pughazhendhi said, “Yes Mr.Rangaswamy, what is your problem?”

Rangaswamy said, “I am running a Hotel in Gandhi Nagar 5th street”

Pugazhendhi said,”Oh, I see”

Rangaswamy said, “Today morning when I opened my shop”

Rangswamy added,” I found all the food supplies and materials destroyed”

Pugazhendhi asked, “What? Destroyed, how?”
Rangaswamy said, “All the stocks got torn  and thrown over everywhere”

Pugazhendhi said,” How much loss has occurred?”

Rangaswamy said,” supply items of worth Rs.10 lakh”

Pugazhendhi said,”Oh my god! Was your shop closed in the night?”
Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”

Pugazhendhi said, “Sir Can I come and see the spot now”
Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”

Pugazhendhi asked, “What is the name of your Hotel?”
Rangaswamy said, “Hotel Sindhu Bhavan”

Pugazhendhi said, “I will be there at Sindhu Bhavan within 20 minutes”
Rangaswamy said, “Please come, sir”

Pugazhendhi said, “Don’t disturb anything sir”
Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”

Pugazhendhi disconnected the phone call.

Pugazhendhi took some of his constables and hurried to the site on an urgent basis.

Chapter 2: The Site Investigation
Date: April 27, 2012
Day: Friday

Pugazhendhi’s jeep came to Hotel Sindhu Bhavan in Gandhi Nagar.

A Man of 45 years old was standing in the gateway of the Hotel.

He was wearing a white shirt and a white dhoti.

Pugazhendhi assumed him to be Mr. Rangaswamy.

Pugazhendhi approached the man and asked, “Are you Mr.Rangaswamy?”

He said, “Yes sir, I am, Please come in”
Rangaswamy directed him into the Hotel.

The labourers and employees were sitting at the Veranda.

Rangaswamy had instructed them to be idle till the police investigation completes.

There were noises of talking sounds, which got silent when both of them entered the Veranda.

They crossed the Veranda and walked towards the Kitchen by passing the Dining Hall.

Both of them entered the Kitchen.
“Oh! My God”, exclaimed Pugazhendhi on seeing the kitchen.

The flour packets got open and scattered everywhere.

The seal of the Masala and Oil packets were also opened and thrown inside the kitchen in a Haphazard manner.

The Vegetables got cut and found dispersed everywhere.

The scene just looked like a massacre to him.

Pugazhendhi asked, “Sir, what is this, your kitchen got damaged to the whole?”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir, this is what I said”
Pugazhendhi said, “How could have this happened?”

Rangaswamy said, “There are two doors through which the entry to this kitchen is possible”

Pugazhendhi asked, “Did you lock both of them last night?”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”
Pugazhendhi asked, “When did you open the Hotel today morning?”

Rangaswamy said, “At 10.30 a.m. sir”
Pugazhendhi asked, “why so late today?”

Rangaswamy said,” The employees were working without rest for the last ten days”

Pugazhendhi said,”Oh, so you gave them a break for today morning”
Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”

Pugazhendhi asked, “Who had the keys of the Hotel?”
Rangaswamy said, “It was with me, sir”

Pugazhendhi said, “So you are the person, who opens and locks the hotel daily?”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”
Pugazhendhi did a thorough examination of the kitchen.

He saw a small vent opening below the ceiling on the east side wall of the kitchen.

Pugazhendhi asked,” is the small vent provided for air flow?”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”
Pugazhendhi asked, “There are three exhaust fans here”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”

Pugazhendhi said, “There is no possibility for a man to enter the hole of exhaust fan”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir, it is small and they need to work on the screws”

Pugazhendhi said, “The only thing which I see is the vent opening which is too small for anyone to enter”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”
Pugazhendhi said,”Oh my god, this is storming my brain too much sir”

Rangaswamy said, “yes sir, me too”

Pugazhendhi said, “Our cops will examine the place and take the evidence”

Rangaswamy said,”ok sir, I will cooperate”
Pugazhendhi said, “is there any possibility of an insurance claim?”

Rangaswamy said, “Sorry sir, I have not insured”

Pugazhendhi said,”Ok, please come to the station and give a written statement”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir, I will”

Pugazhendhi said,”Ok sir, I will see your Hotel in and out and leave to the Police station”

Rangaswamy said,”Ok sir”

Pugazhendhi said, “After the process of our people”

Pugazhendhi added,” you please come to the station with them”

Rangaswamy said, “Yes sir”
Saying so, Pugazhendhi left the kitchen.

He took a walk in and around the Hotel and enquired some of the employees of the Hotel.

But there was no clue with anyone of them.
Pugazhendhi went back to his Station by 12.30 p.m.

It was a tough experience for him.

 

(To Be Continued…)