The Case of the Marketing Manager

In early March 2020, Jeet Thakur Sahai had gone to Naini Tal for a week of training. He was looking forward to going there as he had lived there for a few years as a child in the early 1980s.

His aunt Mrs. Seema Dayal worked at a marketing firm. He stayed with her and her family. One evening she called home and let Jeet know that one of the marketing managers, Mr. Joy Biswas, was murdered in his closed office two hours ago. Police were coming to investigate.

Jeet went to the marketing firm’s office. The firm’s name was Kriplani & Kriplani Marketing Services. His aunt Mrs. Dayal was very worried but she was told that she could go home. Some of the staff were sent home but everyone was told that no one could leave Naini Tal without the police’s permission. Prior to being sent home the staff were thoroughly questioned by the police officers.

Jeet introduced himself to the lead investigator, Inspector Pramod Kukreti. He told him of his credentials and that he wanted to help out. Inspector Pramod agreed.

Jeet: “How did Mr. Biswas die?”

Inspector Pramod: “At about 3 pm every day he went to the cafeteria to get his coffee. Today he had a meeting with one of his clients, Sandhu Legal Services. One of their lawyers had come for the meeting at 2:30 pm. He left at about 2:40 pm. When Mr. Biswas did not come from his office by about 3:20 pm, the peon went inside and checked. He lay dead. It seemed that the ‘lawyer’ had shot him with a pistol that had a silencer.”

Jeet: “I don’t think another company would do this. Let us call Sandhu Legal Services to find out.”

Jeet called Sandhu Legal Services and found out that the meeting was at 3 pm the following day. He discussed with Inspector Pramod. It seemed that someone knew of this and impersonated a lawyer and came for the meeting at 2:30 pm earlier today.

They talked with Mr. Biswas’ secretary Nalini Pandey. She mentioned that someone called earlier in the morning and rescheduled the meeting to 2 pm. She assumed it was from Sandhu Legal Services. As

Sandhu Legal Services had not called Nalini, they assumed the meeting was still on the following day. Nalini informed Mr. Biswas of the rescheduled meeting and he was expecting a lawyer from Sandhu Legal Services at 2:30 pm.

Upon further investigation it was found out that Mr. Biswas’ younger brother Kamal was in a dispute with him over an apartment they had bought together a few years back. Kamal wanted to get the apartment in his sole possession. He thought that if Joy died and he was not caught, then he would get the apartment. Kamal’s friend Vijay worked at Sandhu Legal Services and he told him of the appointment with Joy. So, Kamal hired a driver who worked for him in the past, Naresh, to murder Joy. Naresh wore nice clothes and changed his appearance and took the pistol from Kamal. He then went to Joy’s office for the meeting and killed him and then left.

Inspector Pramod and his colleagues arrested Kamal, Vijay and Naresh. A court case against them would commence in two weeks.

Inspector Pramod thanked Jeet for his help. Jeet was happy to help out.

Jeet completed his training that week. He had a good time staying with his aunt and her family. At the end of the week, Jeet returned to Delhi from Naini Tal. He would take some rest over the weekend and then resume his job the following Monday.