“The Return Gift (Arrest and Deportation of Roshan Ansari)” continues…

He contacted the General Manager of BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited - Government of India’s telephone department), the senior most officer of the department in Bangalore. His request to him (let us call him Mr BSNL) was to track the Bangalore number calling Dubai’s numbers provided by the Dubai Police. Virendra gave the time at which the calls were made and their duration.

Mr BSNL initially dilly-dallied stating that backward tracing was not possible. Virendra retorted: ‘‘‘If forward tracing is possible, so should backward tracing be.’’’ It was 9..30 at night and the BSNL officer said, ‘‘‘We shall consider your request tomorrow morning.’’’ Virendra hung up after cautioning him: ‘‘‘Look, this is an operation involving national security. I have no problem waiting till tomorrow morning but if an untoward incident takes place at night, the responsibility will be yours.’’’

The veiled threat, albeit a subterfuge, worked and put the fear of God in Mr. BSNL who called Virendra back in ten minutes. ‘‘‘I have put three of my best engineers on the job who are reaching the switch-room immediately and shall commence work. I have given your number and they will call you as soon as they trace the calling number,’’’ said a chastened Mr BSNL.

At about 4 am the following morning, Virendra received a call from the switch-room that the number had been traced. Virendra further requested for details of all calls immediately before and after the call to Dubai was made. Three Mumbai landline numbers figured in the call details. On further verification, of the three, only one was found of relevance to the ongoing operation. It was a number installed in Ghatkopar (West). This number too was taken under interception.

Meanwhile, someone on Saira’s behalf called Roshan’s parents from Bangalore on their landline and informed them that the police had come calling, looking for Roshan. The caller also said that it was good that Saira had left Bangalore with her cousin Babu much before the police reached her (Saira’s) house.

To be continued…