01x02 - The Crusader

[bunniefuu]

Alan Sir.

Hi, Sir. I didn't know

you were coming.

Everything we are

about to discuss here?

Sir, I am deaf.

Better.

What do you have so far?

Sir, I've already started

analysing the phone numbers.

I can see some patterns emerging,

but I'll need a couple of days.

As of now, we have nothing.

So anything you do find is a bonus.

Yes, Sir. What about

this Morris Finn?

I'm waiting for a report

from a second interrogation

they have just performed on him.

It seems that Morris would

buy raw ivory from Raaz

for about 30,000

rupees per kilo.

And his main buyer

is our big fish.

Someone named

"Poonam Verma".

She owns an art gallery in South Delhi

posh, sells ivory to select clients.

Likely pre-ordered

from China.

So there's got to be

a log of it somewhere.

Correct. The other big fish

is the dealer for the clients

someone named

"Ravi Don".

Morris gets each tusk carved

by artists in a workshop

which is being raided

as we speak.

After the ivory is carved,

then it's looked at as an art piece.

Its value appreciates into thousands,

sometimes hundreds of thousands.

This racket is unlike anything

we have seen in the past.

But right now, we have to

find Raaz and his g*ng.

Before they totally disappear -

assuming they're still in Kerala.

Then we have the carriers,

the money-changers, the gunsmiths

- likely all locals.

- And the big fish?

My experience is the main buyer

is not going anywhere.

She has much to lose

to just up and flee.

So the key is to secure all the

evidence against her first.

What about all your

high-level contacts?

That, I can only use as my last resort,

and we are not there yet.

See, if I ask for too many favours,

people higher up will take notice.

Things will get complicated,

political - they will tie my hands.

So first thing's first, just

right now, crack the call logs.

- Yes, Sir.

- Stop the car.

Take a taxi to Thattekad.

Keep all the receipts.

Also, if you ever have to

meet me again in person

just carry a folder with

turtle-related documents in it.

Like any studieslike

the data on the status

of turtle populations.

- Why, Sir?

- Just do it.

Okay.

Your entire team should

be 'need-to-know'.

That includes anyone

else you get on board.

- Yes, Sir.

- Understand?

And thank you for

this opportunity

- Hey, Gils.

- Hey, Alan. How are you?

All good. Can I use your bathroom?

I just landedneed to freshen up.

Sure, around the back.

Drop everything!

Move iteveryone out.

You're all under arrest!

These handicrafts are being seized

by the Kerala Forest Department.

Everyone out, now.

Quickly!

Ma'am, I've never seen

so much ivory.

- Add this too.

- Okay.

- How much?

- 500 rupees.

- Is that okay?

- Achala.

I just saw Alan.

- My Alan?

- Yeah

in my shop -

he was in a hurry.

Great, see you around.

Here, Sister.

Hey, what's up?

What kind of husband

returns to his home town

and doesn't even

tell his family?

The kind that barely has

two minutes to spare.

I wanted to come home, but I'm stuck

at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary.

I was going to call tomorrow.

What are you doing there -

photographing birds?

Yeah, some big assignment,

before they migrate.

I'll be home this week.

- Before the PTA meeting on Friday.

- For sure. Just arriving here, I'll call you.

- Everything okay?

- Yeah, all good.

Welcome to my hell.

I'm at the end of my rope, no idea

how to unscramble all of this.

Your forestry degree won't help you with

the kind of pattern analysis this requires.

You need a computer

programmer to do the job.

Here, if we break it down one

piece at a time, we can crack it.

But it's all about submitting

the right queries to this software.

Like 'help us catch these f*ck?'

Look - for each suspect's number,

the CDR gives us:

The details of all outgoing and

incoming calls and text messages.

And the IMEI numbers -

as in, the hardware ID of each device.

Also, every correspondence's time,

date, and mobile tower location.

Now, we need to know who

Raaz is calling. So we inquire

From this number

Raaz's number.

In the last few months, which number

has it called over 20 times

and also received calls from,

at a similar rate?

There - this is either a

family member, or colleague.

- Or lover.

- Perhaps.

Now, if we observe the patterns,

we can develop a plausible story.

- Yeah, Harish, tell me

- I have something, for the usual price.

- Fine, but tell me now.

- If I tell you now, what about my

f*cking tell me.

I just heard something,

the information is sound.

Raaz's right hand - Poyya -

has relatives in Elanji.

- But I don't know where, exactly.

- That's not far.

- And my money?

- You'll get it.

- Poyya has relatives in Elanji.

- You know anyone there who can help?

Vijay Babu.

Isn't he under suspension

for botching the raid?

- Yeah.

- I heard he did it on purpose.

No way. He can be sloppy,

but he's not corrupt.

- Will you be okay here?

- Hmm, this will take time.

- You're up.

- Do I have to?

Just go!

- Babu, phone!

- Let it ring.

It's Mala!

- What took you so long?

- Is 5 minutes too 'long' for you?

Listen, do you still have your

political connection in Elanji?

- Yeah.

- Send me his number.

He won't talk to you -

he only trusts me.

- What do you want to know?

- I can't say.

- Then I'm not sure how I can help you.

- Meet me at Karim's at midnight.

She should be coming anytime.

- Sir

- Hey Dina, please come.

Morris Finn?

He has been remanded.

We have him for another week.

Oh, good - get him to Malayattoor.

He'll be required there.

Yes, Sir.

Andhe has filed a complaint

with the head of the Forest Force

against you and

your husband.

- Custodial t*rture.

- He what?!

He says you used chilli

powder in his eyes

broke his legs and ribs,

and attacked his genitals.

Sir, I have not touched him.

And my husband? He just came

to drop me food that day.

Regardless, it seems Morris Finn

is dealing with paid media

who is reporting that he's

just a simple labourer

who's been wronged by us

Whose mother was assaulted by you,

and had to be taken to a hospital.

His mother?! She faked

a heart attack and I

Sir, my informant

tells me that

Finn's been involved

not only in ivory trade

but kidnapping,

and heroin dealings.

He's a hardened criminal, and

even threatened me if I persisted.

This is all just a farce, Sir.

We cannot take this seriously.

And the media is supposed

to be our 4th pillar

- And I suggest

- Dina

We will fight this

through proper channels.

But for now, there will be an

internal investigation.

And you need to keep

a low profile 'til then.

Take a back seat

'til this blows over

and let us call you

when we need you again.

Exactly what he wanted

f*cking poacher.

I was just trying

to do my job.

What have you brought?

Is this the reason you

wanted to meet me?

Yes, Sir.

This was foundalong with dozens

of other incomplete sculptures

all made of local ivory.

Yes, I read your report.

What else is there?

Sirs, we need to understand

that there are multiple statues

All 6 feet tall. And

this catalogue here

There are hundreds of samples

sent to prospective buyers.

And Aruku claims that there

were about 18 elephants

but I believe there were

way more than that.

And Sir

Notice anything peculiar

about this piece?

- Did you call the dog trust guy yet?

- No, Ma. I'll get to it.

What is it?

- Where do I start?

- Tell me

You're out for days.

You come back just to eat.

And then disappear again in the

middle of the night. What is this?

It's my work.

It's like being with

your father again.

The difference is I'm saving them,

not sh**ting them.

- It's just as dangerous.

- I'm fine with that.

When I think of the things

my beloved father did.

- You don't need to atone for his sins.

- No? Then who will?

How many did he k*ll?

How proud was he?

He provided for you,

raised you.

If I'd known the source of the money,

I'd have chosen to starve to death.

How could you live with

someone who provided for us

but didn't give a damn about

everyone else's health?

You said you were doing data

analysis on this case, that's all.

But nobody looking at call records

needs to leave at midnight.

Nothing will happen to me, Ma.

I've already lost one to that

cursed jungle, I can't

I have a big team,

I'm protected.

What happened?

Playing Kabaddi - I was trying to

take my mind off the suspension.

A suspension you earned.

A few hits to the head

might do you good.

You haven't changed at all.

Neither have you - you still

don't care about the work we do.

- Of course I care.

- As long as you get a pay cheque.

Mala, not all of us can be jungle crusaders.

Some of us just need to make a living.

Right, while letting the poachers go in

and destroy your livelihood?

Did you call me just to

kick me while I'm down?

- I can get that at my Kabaddi matches.

- Hey

I need your help.

For what?

I'm working on the case now.

Undercover, for the Chief Conservator.

Poyya has a relative, somewhere

in Elanji. I need to find him.

- Get me reinstated first.

- I can't.

Yes, you can.

You're working for

Kishore Sir

If he thinks you need me,

he can just snap his fingers.

You're the reason

we're in this mess.

Everyone thinks

you took money from Raaz.

You know that's not true - I may be

a lot of things, but I'm not corrupt.

Let me fix this.

Mala, please - if I ever meant

anything to you, help me out.

Otherwise, I'm going to keep getting my

head bashed in until they reinstate me.

I'll help you catch

these f*ck.

I'll vouch for you, on your assurance

that we keep it purely professional.

I'm your senior officer, and I may

keep you in the dark at times.

This is not an excuse to get

back togetherrevisit old times.

Understand?

Call your guy.

I already did.

Matthew

- This is Mala, the range officer.

- Hello.

- This must be serious, meeting here so late.

- It's a matter of life and death.

- Do you have the list?

- Yeahhere.

- What's this?

- Local voter's list.

Poyya's relatives

are likely on it.

PoyyaI know that guy.

Yadu is his relative. One minute

- How did you know I'd need this?

- You needed my political connection in Elanji.

And urgently. I figured you

were on the hunt for someone.

Here he is, Yadu.

Do you know where

this house is?

I know the area, and someone

who can help us there.

Brother, what's up? We need

you to help us find this guy.

That's Poyya's relative's place -

the house with the stairs.

- Lots of people come and go.

- You've seen Poyya there?

- Of course I have.

- Are you sure?

Yeah.

Likely, Poyya will be waiting for us to raid it.

And he could slip away in the commotion.

- And how do you know that?

- I arrested him once.

He's capable of anything. He always carries

a knife - it'll be a bloodbath if he gets violent.

Then we fish him out.

Where are they going?

Most men around here

are day labourers.

They're probably going

to the quarry nearby.

- What?

- Are you looking for work?

We need men

for the quarry.

- How's the pay?

- 1000 rupees a day.

Are there other men here?

- I mean, other eligible workers?

- How many do you need?

How many can you get? We have

to finish the work in a week.

- There are 5 men here.

- Bring them all.

Come today, and your job is guaranteed.

A truck leaves from the bus stand in 3 hours.

If what Dina's discovered is true,

then we have a big problem.

But Sir, this information needs to be

verified by the last criminals in the chain.

By those who sell the contraband.

This Poonam Verma, and Ravi Don

who I don't even think

is in the country.

If it's true, it means

a complete policy shift.

It changes our understanding of

the entire wildlife trade, Neel.

I couldn't sleep.

Sir, we are on it. Hopefully I'll have

some good news to report to you soon.

Good luck.

Sorry, Doctor. It was

a matter of life and death.

Well, it's the same here.

There are radiation therapies

I can recommend

but it would mean

taking time off work.

- What if they don't bite?

- Then we raid them.

- And if he slips away?

- Hey

That's the truck.

Come

- 2 more guys are joining.

- Fine.

- Is this the transport?

- Yup.

- And it's 1000 a day, per head?

- Yup. Get in, everyone.

Stand by.

Help him up.

Go ahead.

Let's go, Brother!

All clear, go.

Yeah, tell me.

Only women and children

left in the house, no men.

We've secured all phones.

Fine, don't let them

out of your sight.

Stop, stop

stop the truck.

Everyone down, now!

He's not here.

- What's going on?

- We're looking for Poyya.

Are you police?

Poyya isn't here.

- Forest Department. Where is he?

- Can forest officers do this?

Yes, we can do this.

We can arrest you too!

- Where's Poyya?

- No clue.

He came and stayed for

a few days, but ran off last week.

He never tells us anything.

- Has he done something wrong?

- So there's no quarry job?

Alan

- Any luck?

- You?

Actually, yes - I've figured

out a few things.

Morris used to call

Raaz frequently.

And logic dictates that

if Raaz possessed ivory

like any poacher, he would

want to offload it immediately.

Morris called Raaz here, and then travelled

the next day, to this cell tower location.

Throughout Morris' journey,

they were in contact.

My guess is they exchanged

ivory at these five locations.

Three times in Peringazha,

in the Muvattupuzha region.

Once on the roadside,

somewhere here.

And one time in

a hotel, in Kalladi.

Now according to these CDRs,

Raaz has four numbers

all switched off from

May 25th onwards.

But the interesting thing is

I rechecked all of Raaz's IMEI's

Yesterday, one of Raaz's phones was

re-activated, according to its IMEI number.

So there's a new SIM card in one of

Raaz's phones, in Peringazha

in a place where Raaz

met with Morris, thrice.

I sent someone I trust

to Peringazha.

But we only know that it's this

cell tower, which covers this region.

We need to be cautious when we approach

the area, as Raaz could be there now.

Another thing - the most common

number Raaz calledis this.

It could be his wife, if he's married.

But he only calls it at night, usually late.

And this number never

calls him back.

- A lover.

- I think so too.

And someone who's married, because he

calls for five seconds, then hangs up.

My guess is he calls her, tells her

to get free from whoever she's with

and he calls her back 10 minutes

later, when she's alone.

And then they talk

for 45 minutes.

I've requested that number's CDR as well,

so that we can verify all of this.

Is Morris Finn still in the

department's custody?

So we need him to confirm that these are

the 5 locations where he exchanged ivory.

And also if he knows any of Raaz's

associates or relatives in said areas.

I'll ask Neel Sir.

To crack this

whole thing open

we just need to find one

person who's close to Raaz.

Have you ever seen

elephants in the wild?

Only once, but from a distance.

I was meant to go with my father.

Just to track and see them.

But it never happened.

But now, I hope I never do.

They don't want to be seen by us.

That's true, butjust to

glimpse them in the wild.

No chains.

No human contact.

That'll be amazing.

It would be like seeing a

species from another planet.

But they're not.

They're here,

on our planet.

And every time we meet them

it's a disaster.

Do you need to go home?

I should. Achala will k*ll me

if I stay away another night.

Even Ma's on my case to

stop spending nights away.

Let's call it a day.

My informer

Yeah, tell me Yogesh?

I met one of the neighbours in the

area of the reactivated phone.

She told me that

Raaz's sister lives there.

Great, Yogesh.

Apparently Raaz's sister, her husband,

and their son all live in Peringazha.

- I'm texting the address.

- Send it.

So according to the map

it's a different cell-tower area from

where the mobile phone was activated.

So that's two connections

in Peringazha.

Thanks Yogesh -

stay there, we're coming.

So we have two

houses in the area:

Raaz's sister's house, and a mystery house,

where Raaz's phone was reactivated.

Why don't we call the reactivated

phone, see who answers?

Damn - why didn't

I think of that before?

I'm tired too.

It wouldn't be wise for

either of us to call.

So you leave my birthday party

before the cake-cutting.

Then leave the city

like a gust of wind.

And then I get a call

from your wife

asking if you're still in Delhi, and whether

you're having an affair with someone?

What do I tell her? That you're

sneaking around with snakes?

He prefers the company

of his own kind?

Very funny. One day I'll tell you

what this snake-charmer is up to.

But first I need your help.

Fine, but we're going to

another movie, my choice.

Total melodrama, three hours,

phones off - promise me.

The f*cking sacrifices

we make.

- Hello?

- Hello.

Uh, I'm calling from Cityphone.

Do you speak Hindi?

Yeah, go ahead.

Uh, I'm very happy to tell you

that the owner of this number

has won Cityphone's

Bumper Lucky Draw!

- May I know who I'm speaking to?

- Yeah, uh, my name is Bharti.

Miss Bharti, can you confirm

your registered address?

Valavilveedu, Perumballoor P.O.,

Peringazha, Muvattupuzha.

Miss Bharti, are there any

landmarks near your house?

It will help the delivery boy

drop off your prize.

What's the prize?

The prizeuha brand new

mobile phone, earphones

and a new phone cover.

All top of the line.

We're caterers.

Neyyappams are our speciality.

There's a board outside our house:

"Ponnu's Neyyappams."

It's easy to spot.

- Did you find the mystery house?

- Yeah, I'm sending directions.

You're sure, then?

Yes, Sir. This is Raaz's

sister's house - I've been here.

You know, this information

would have helped us earlier.

Nobody asked me

about Raaz's sister.

Is that right? I wonder what other

information is rattling around in your head?

Huh? Why did you do it?

Why did you order the ivory?

And inititate the slaying of creatures

who have never harmed you?

You think I'm the one

who ordered this?

If I didn't do what I did,

someone else would.

I'm not the problem -

it's the lady in Delhi.

And the client-dealer,

Ravi Don.

- And whoever the hell they deal with.

- Tell me about Delhi - Poonam Verma.

I only know her

on the phone.

Sometimes she calls and asks me

to send her something - that's it.

- Who's ordering it, the Chinese?

- I don't know.

But if you value your

family's life, I'd be careful.

We know about the case you filed

against the DFO in Trivandrum.

If you intend to take us on,

you won't be around to see it resolved.

The DFO entered my home

and threatened my wife.

And that really

pissed me off.

But you all - it's not me

who you should fear.

Vishal told me that the wildlife trade

now funds international terrorism.

Terrorism? You mean

instead of narcotics?

What is it?