01x01 - The Unsolved Mystery

[bunniefuu]

[insects chirping loudly]

[water gushing]

[bangles clinking]

[suspenseful music]

[suspenseful music continues]

No two murders

are ever alike.

And that is why

every m*rder investigation needs to be

handled differently.

And yet

certain investigative techniques

will help you crack the case sooner.

That's

what I feel.

I first stumbled upon this theory while

working on the Feroze Daruwala m*rder case.

But after I caught

Krushna Desai's murderers

I started believing in it.

[flies buzzing]

As for Raman Raghav

it was this technique again

that helped me the most.

This technique is

quite a simple one.

Just six questions actually.

Find answers to those questions

and the case will keep building.

Hmm.

Question number one.

[intense music begins]

Who is the victim?

[intense music continues]

Who's that?

Who's that there!

Pralhad?

Is that you, Pralhad?

Oi!

Answer me you idiot!

You know what's happening

in the village!

[music builds to a crescendo]

[woman screams] [axe thuds]

Question number two.

What is the actual cause of death?

Could the cause be different

from what's mentioned

in the post mortem report?

We need to mindful of this at all times.

We must find the truth

behind the truth.

Question number three.

Where was the m*rder committed?

It might not be, where

we find the body.

The body might've been moved

after committing the m*rder.

So it is necessary to ascertain

the scene of the crime.

Parvati bai!

Parvati!

Can you hear us?

Parvati!

Parvati bai!

Parvati bai!

Parvati bai!

Parvati bai!

Parvati!

Parvati bai!

[tense music playing]

[music builds to a crescendo]

Question number four.

When was the m*rder committed?

Without knowing

the time of the m*rder

you will never be able

to say with certainty,

where the suspects were at that time

and what they were doing.

Another m*rder! A seventh one, Sir!

It's the seventh one, Sir!

You mean Parvati Barhate?

She's dead!

Let's go, Paranje!

- Where was her body found?

- In her relative's field!

Found it early this morning.

Question number five.

What was the motive

behind the m*rder?

It isn't always easy

to answer this one.

The investigation might point

to several motives.

And they might all seem probable.

When you wade through

all that clutter

and find the actual motive

behind the m*rder

that's when

you'll be close to the end

of your investigation.

And now, the most important

question number six.

Any guesses?

Who could be the k*ller?

[soft sniggering]

As an investigating officer

you have to make an initial guess

based on all the evidence.

But

we could also be wrong.

Always bear that in mind.

After all this effort

finding the criminal

is still only half the job done.

You also have to prove it in court

for which you'll need

enough evidence.

But if you don't have it

you'll have to convince

one of the accused

to turn witness.

Excuse me, Sir

There's a call for you.

Give me a moment.

Please sit!

As I was saying, Sir

I know about this Manvat case.

Bombay CID in such a small village

that's a first.

I'm under a lot of pressure.

Seven murders in eighteen months

and not a single arrest!

Sir!

As you know

I'm working on two

important cases in Mumbai.

Ramakant.

I will make sure that all officers

working on those cases

will be in touch with you.

I've spoken to them.

If there is anyone

who can solve this case

then it's you.

That's what everyone

has been telling me.

As you say, Sir!

Make sure you leave tomorrow!

Yes, Sir!

Ramakant!

Best of luck!

Thank you, Sir.

Should we?

Hey, don't!

Anita!

Please sleep!

Come on, sleep now!

Baba, will you be here

on your birthday?

Darling! His birthday

is still a month away.

I'm sure a few days would be

enough for him to crack the case.

Right?

I'll be back. OK?

Off to bed now!

I'm going to count till three.

OK.

One.

Two.

Three.

[train horn blaring]

[indistinct chatter in the background]

Sir!

Why didn't you get a first class ticket?

Why spend unnecessarily?

This is just fine.

And you even get

to observe people here.

[ambient train sounds]

Hey, you!

- How much?

- 10 paisa.

Give me one.

Sir!

What's your famous sixth sense

telling you about this case?

My sixth sense is telling me

that

this case is going to be

a tough one to crack.

Sir!

But

what is your first impression

of this case?

Four minor girls

and three women

have been brutally k*lled

with a sharp hatchet-like weapon.

Hatchet?

I mean an axe.

Injuries have been inflicted

on their private parts with a sharp object.

Perhaps

to draw blood from there.

It all seems very ritualistic to me.

Some kind of occult practice.

And we know nothing about that.

That's exactly why I got this book.

The Witchcraft and Black Magic.

Oh good Lord! To study?

Yes. To study.

[train announcement over PA system]

Sir!

Sir, even the Kachiguda Express

arrived on time because of you.

Oi! Keep the bags in.

Sir!

Please don't! Damodar!

Sir!

You remember my name

after all these years!

Of course!

Well, Vakatkar, this is Damodar Shukla.

He used to work with me ten years ago

when I was posted here in Parbhani.

Sir, this is Ponkshe.

He's here to receive you.

He led investigations on behalf of

the state CID.

Hello, Sir!

Hello!

We spoke on the phone.

Yes.

Hello!

Please come, Sir!

[brakes screeching]

Do you want to die, f*ck!

[mysterious music playing]

Kulkarni saheb! I'm sure

you'll solve this case.

But be careful.

Do you know him, Sir?

The whole of Parbhani knows him!

The situation is quite tense, Sir.

You won't find a single woman

on the street after sunset.

And the people of Manvat

don't trust the police anymore.

Sir

they don't even offer

a policeman some water!

When you took over this case

you'd arrested two suspects, right?

Yes.

Uttamrao Barhate and Rukminibai.

And who are they exactly?

This Uttamrao Barhate used to work

at a kirana store.

He studied on the side

and eventually landed up in politics.

He gradually made his way up

by cozying up to the right people.

And became the Chairman

of the Municipal Council.

He has a son from his first wife.

Jayant.

But he doesn't stay with his father.

To earn some money, he took Rukmini's

help and started a liquor business.

People from Rukmini's caste

live in this settlement.

That's the smell of mutton.

These people eat their mutton raw.

This is where Uttamrao met Rukmini.

She had good features and

was quite the looker

and Uttamrao was always

a little weak in the knees.

They hit it off.

Her husband had left her.

But he took her in.

And even paid her father a lot of money.

And brought her to the city.

Let's go!

[sudden gasp of pain]

Ow!

[winces in pain]

[gasps in pain]

[eerie music begins]

[door knock]

What is it!

Umm the lawyer is here.

Couldn't he have found a better time!

Is this any time to visit people!

Ask him to come back tomorrow!

I called him.

Ask him to sit. We'll be there.

Wipe it.

- Namaskar, Sir!

- Namaskar.

I am Senior Inspector Paranje.

Actually, I'm a big-

Sir, this is Yusuf. The caretaker, cook,

watchman and pretty much everything.

- Namaste.

Namaskar.

Sir!

So, Ponkshe!

Yes.

Those two, I mean Uttamrao

and Rukmini, right?

On what basis had we arrested them?

There are strong rumours that

there's treasure buried

under the peepal tree

in their mansion.

So?

People started hearing ritualistic sounds

from their wada after every m*rder.

Oh!

But then why were they released?

Because no one testified against them.

The magistrate didn't find

our evidence to be strong.

And then

when the next three murders

happened, they were in the lock up.

Ah!

So you had to release them.

Yes.

But we've succeeded

in banishing them from Manvat.

Both of them live in Parbhani now.

So they cannot meddle

in our investigation.

[rattling sound]

Namaskar!

Was it urgent-

For how long are we supposed

to stay like outcasts!

When can we go back to Manvat?

Sit down!

I'm trying my best.

You see

umm that is exactly why

we are filing a petition.

Nonsense!

Stop giving us false hopes,

Dusane saheb!

If we continue to live like this,

who will look after our farms!

Rukminibai's sister, Samindribai.

Isn't she taking care of your affairs?

Look

despite your absence

hasn't she managed

the liquor business well?

Listen, you f*ck!

Don't be a wise a*s.

I don't trust anyone.

And no one is immune

to the allure of money.

Move heaven and earth if you have

to but get us out of this mess.

It's not that easy.

An officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch

has taken over this case now.

His name is Ramakant Kulkarni.

You're not the only one

reading a newspaper.

They say he is a hardened officer.

If you ask me

let him take charge.

Let him investigate all he wants.

Once he goes back

you can go back to Manvat.

But why not now!

No one's going to intimidate me!

They're the financial overlords

of the village.

People don't have any money

and yet their liquor shops

are thriving.

Hmm.

They've more money

than you can imagine.

Right now, they're the only ones

who have money.

The entire village has mortgaged

houses to take a loan from them.

Who's going to stand up to them?

[coughing]

Careful. Here.

Vakatkar

if you want to stay here

you'll have to get used to this food.

Here.

Oh no!

What the

We'll have to get used to

these power cuts too.

Can't trust them one bit.

Thank you, Ambadas.

Thank you, saheb.

I think

it's quite late.

Get some rest.

Let's meet at the police station

at 7:30 in the morning.

Sharp.

[vehicle engine starts]

[eerie music playing]

[radio playing]

Yusuf!

- Can you please lock this?

- Yes, Sir.

Thank you.

[suspenseful music playing]

Sorry, sorry!

- Am I late?

- Not at all, Sir.

So Sonawane

how are you?

I'm OK, Sir.

Let's go.

[barking sound]

[suspenseful music continues]

Have you guys never tried

to raid Uttamrao's liquor shops?

His liquor shops are

impossible to find, Sir.

And their location keeps changing.

Even when we've tracked them down,

all we've found are traces.

And the distribution network?

That is an even bigger mystery.

From one person to another

then the third and fourth.

Sir

what is our line of action today?

Let's turn one of the guest house

rooms into the incidence room.

OK, Sir.

I'm going to need some things.

Tell me, Sir.

The largest map of Manvat

you can get your hands on

coloured chalks, sticky tape

and a big blackboard.

OK, Sir.

[ominous bird trill]

Name?

Datta Sutar.

What happened?

Someone stole my chicken

a couple of days ago.

It must have been devoured

and digested by now!

There's no point filing

this complaint, Dattabhau.

Someone decapitated it

and kept it by the door.

Early in the morning.

Oh is it!

[suspenseful music]

Some sort of black magic business!

The f*ck is out to get me!

That's why he stole my chicken.

Umm

I'll drop the black magic part.

I'll keep the theft part, OK?

When was it stolen?

Where are you from?

From Patoda.

Patoda!

- My sister's marital village!

- Is it?

Yes!

Hey, stop chitchatting!

He's here!

Start playing!

[shehnai playing]

[shehnai continues]

Welcome, Sir.

Welcome to the

Manvat police station.

Please come in, Sir.

Please come, Sir.

Just petty thieves, Sir.

Fresh catch!

Hey, don't look up!

Please, this way, Sir.

Please sit here, Sir.

Right here.

For you, Sir.

What is this for?

Today is a very special day

for all of us.

So we've ordered it from the city.

Here.

What's so special about today?

I'd love to know.

I'll tell you, Sir.

We are

blessed to have

a great officer like you

grace our station..

with your esteemed presence.

We are very fortunate.

This divine moment

will forever be carved in our hearts

thanks to your presence.

Sir

it is our humble request to you

to ferry our lost ship to safety

and rescue us

with your vast experience.

[sound of clapping]

Someone please turn off

that squawking shehnai first.

Hey, guy from Patoda!

Stop that squawking! Stop it!

Hey!

Didn't you hear me! Stop it!

Assholes!

"The Manvat police have still not

caught the k*ller of innocent children."

"Why is the police incompetent?"

Have you been reading this?

Do you know what

everyone is saying about us?

Do you?

This is extremely humiliating

for our department.

Why the hell are you

distributing sweets?

To welcome me?

Am I a showman?

We made a mistake.

We're very sorry for that.

Let us all begin the search

from tomorrow.

Why tomorrow?

What is so auspicious about tomorrow?

Let's go.

Get all the files along.

Let's go to the place where

you found the first body.

Let's go.

Take the files.

[whistling sound]

[tense music playing]

Gaye!

Hurry up!

You carry on!

[tense music continues]

[music builds to a crescendo]

Look at this.

Who among you was

the first one to see Gayabai's body?

Me, I saw it.

Krishna Dhangare came to the police station

and said the girl's body is here.

My first guess was that

it must be Gayabai.

Because Sakharam, her father,

had filed a missing person report.

So I brought him here

to identify her body.

Whose farm is that?

Shrirang Barhate.

And the one on this side?

Uttamrao Barhate.

So are they related?

Not really.

Barhate is a common name here.

Paranje

Sir.

According to Gayabai's father

when she went missing

and he was looking for her

he had come to this place.

But he didn't find her body.

Not just him, I had come here myself.

And I didn't see a thing.

That means

it's like that boy said.

While she was collecting cow dung

someone kidnapped her

took her to an unknown place

and k*lled her.

So the body was

there for two days

and was then dumped here.

Umm, I guess so.

I mean that's what I think too.

Why would the k*ller do that?

But Sir

that means hiding the body

wasn't the motive.

Then what was the motive?

How did no one in the village

notice any of this?

Didn't they suspect anything?

What is the population of the village?

This is one of the bigger

villages in Parbhani.

But it's not so big that

an outsider would

come here and k*ll people.

Because an outsider

is very easy to spot.

Correct.

That means

the k*ller is a local.

He lives among the villagers.

Hurry up!

Sir.

[indistinct chatter in the background]

Why can't I see photos of

Gayabai's body?

Here they are, Sir.

Right here.

The body position, the wounds

and everything that

was around, in detail.

That's alright. But I want

the photographs.

Sorry, Sir.

There are no photos.

What do you mean?

What I mean is

no photos were taken.

Why?

We don't have police photographers

like you do in Mumbai.

We get our wedding

photographers to do this.

Right.

- What about the other photos?

- They're all there.

But not these.

The face was slashed multiple times

and d*sfigured.

Right, Sir.

Her father recognised her

from her birth mark.

But why was the face d*sfigured?

Let's go.

What's that?

That?

That's the Pandhrya temple.

Pandhrya?

What deity is that?

It may be a deity

it may not be a deity.

Care to explain, Paranje?

I mean it looks like a temple.

But no one prays here.

As in?

Why have they built it?

When the Nizam was attacked

all the villagers fled the village.

Some elders say that

there were more wealthy people

in Manvat than in Parbhani.

And all their money, gold, valuables

Get to the point, Paranje!

Hm.

They collected all that and buried it.

They then placed a white rock over it.

And built a temple around it.

Hmm.

So the villagers believe

that there's treasure buried here.

That's right, Sir.

The area around this temple

is known as the Pandhrya zone.

How many such sites in the village?

About 10 to 12.

10 or 12?

The first task for tomorrow is

to mark these sites on a map.

Yes, Sir.

Now tell me

if I was interested in black magic

are there any local spellcasters?

Kaachu Paaku.

He's the only one who does this.

Kaachu Paaku?

His real name is Kachhu Ladeeb.

But everyone calls him Kaachu Paaku.

Have you interrogated him?

We did but we didn't find anything.

OK.

Get him to the police station tomorrow.

I want to talk to him.

OK, Sir.

But

they don't call him a spellcaster here

they call him a psychic.

What's a psychic?

Someone who has intuitive powers

someone who sees the past,

the present and the future.

A psychic, you say!

Right.

Paranje

Sir.

You said nobody comes here to pray.

But look at this.

[suspenseful music playing]

[sound of footsteps]

- Come on, hurry up!

- Hmm.

Here.

- Come on in, quick!

- Yeah.

[tense music begins]

[shrieking sounds]

Let her go!

Please! Let her go!

Let her go!

That's my daughter!

Let her go, please!

[people shouting]

[sound of radio tuning]

[violent knocking]

Please open the door, Sir!

Please hurry up!

We need to go.

What happened?

Someone has attacked a little girl.

What?

Upon hearing the girl's cries,

some villagers came and nabbed him.

People have lost it and aren't

even letting the police in.

I can't believe we've caught him

on the first day!

[people clamouring]

[clamouring continues]