SALIM THE DISPOSABLE (Tracing the absconder Salim Kurla)

On January 20, 1995 it was past 10.30 pm. Inspector Raman Tyagi of the Special Task Force of the CBI based in Mumbai, was still at work.. He was busy completing the reply to a tricky matter coming up the following day in the court trying the serial Bombay bomb blast cases of March 12, 1993. He was just about beginning to wind up for the day when his office phone rang. He thought it was his wife again, asking him what time he would reach home. For a moment he thought he would be better off not taking the call. But, though a trifle vexed, fortuitously, he picked up the receiver.

‘‘‘Aadaab, Inspector Saheb’’’, the caller greeted him. Raman recognized the voice immediately. It was his mole in the D-company.

‘‘‘Haan, bolo, kya khabar hai? (Yes, tell me what news do you have for me’’’), Raman asked impatiently.

‘‘‘Aap key kaam kee khabar hai, Inspector Saheb. Salim Kurla ka phone number mil gaya hai. Woh Hyderabad mein hai’’’ (I have useful news for you. I have got Salim Kurla’s number for you. He is in Hyderabad,’’’ the caller said.

‘‘‘Achcha, aur bhee kuch hai ki bas phone number? (Good. Besides his phone number, do you have any other information),’’’ enquired the Inspector.

‘‘‘Nahin, aur kuch nahi hai. Aap Hyderabad pahuncho, wahaan apna koi number de dena.
Salim sey baat kar ke main aapko confirm kar doonga ki woh wahan hai ki nahin. Aap taiyyari kar ke rakhna. Idhar main confirm karoonga, udhar aap raid kar dena. (No, nothing more. You should reach Hyderabad and give me a number. First, I will call Salim and if he is available on the number I am giving you, I will let you know. You should, meanwhile, locate the address where his phone is installed and keep a team ready close by. You raid the premises as soon as I confirm to you that he is there,)’’’ said the mole conspiratorially.

To be continued.....