The Dowry Case

In early August 2019, Jeet Thakur Sahai went to visit his cousin Mahesh and his family in Saharanpur. He planned to be there for five days.

While Mahesh and his family were happy to see Jeet, they were also very upset at something that happened recently.

Mahesh: “Police Inspector Amitabh Saha will be coming in the next 30 minutes. He is investigating as Poonam Didi was allegedly given poison by her in-laws in Dehra Dun. Inspector Amitabh is in touch with the police there and Didi’s in-laws are not allowed to leave the city until the case is fully investigated.”

Jeet: “I am very sorry to hear that. What was the issue?”

Mahesh: “Her in-laws were pestering us for the past few months for dowry and Dad and me had managed to give them 7 lakh rupees. We did not want to but we did. Later they demanded an additional 2 lakh rupees and when we said no, they started troubling Poonam Didi.”

Jeet: “You should have gone to the police.”

Mahesh: “Yes, we should have. We thought everything would be fine but it did not. Now Poonam Didi is recovering in the local hospital and should return back home in a day or two.”

Inspector Amitabh arrived and discussed the case.

Mahesh introduced Jeet and let Inspector Amitabh know that Jeet worked for the Delhi Police.

Inspector Amitabh: “We are constantly corresponding with the Dehra Dun police. What did Poonam’s husband Rohit Chawla do?”

Mahesh: “He worked in a private company as an accountant there. He had studied economics at the Master’s level.”

Jeet: “Wait a minute. Is he not the same person who was obsessed with the movie A Beautiful Mind and saw it 11 times?”

Mahesh: “Yes, that is him.”

Inspector Amitabh: “So, how does that matter?”

Jeet: “It may matter. Inspector, what did the Dehra Dun Police say? I bet Rohit and his family are denying taking any money or demanding a dowry from Poonam’s family?”

Inspector Amitabh: “We are still investigating. Yes, so far they are denying it.”

Jeet: “It may be a long shot but please get help the Dehra Dun police get a warrant and search Rohit’s friends and relatives’ bank accounts. You might get something.”

Inspector Amitabh went to Dehra Dun and with his colleagues there got warrants and searched Rohit’s friends and relatives’ bank accounts. A total of 23 accounts were searched and eventually the 7 lakh rupees were found in four of his friends’ accounts. The amounts were 2 lakhs, 1 lakh, 1.5 lakhs and 2.5 lakhs. Upon further investigation, it was found out that Rohit and his mother had poisoned Poonam’s orange juice one day, but fortunately she survived.

Rohit and his mother were arrested and a court case would start in two weeks.

Inspector Amitabh thanked Jeet for his help on the phone.

Inspector Amitabh: “Why did you think that the money would be in Rohit’s friends’ or relatives’ accounts?”

Jeet: “It was just a hunch. Rohit was a big fan of A Beautiful Mind. In the movie Prof. Nash explains the Game Theory’s Nash Equilibrium in a bar to his friends. I thought using that example in mind, Rohit would have siphoned the money to his friends and not himself. If he was the ‘target’, then the money could go to his ‘associates’, thereby in a way meaning that ‘everyone does not look out for oneself in isolation but everyone looks out for oneself as well as the group.’”

Inspector Amitabh: “Thank you.”

Mahesh: “Thank you Jeet. I don’t understand the example, but I think you thought of it.”

Jeet: “Well, it was not a direct example, but sort of an indirect inspiration. If you see the movie, you will understand. Also, don’t thank me. I am family. Inspector Amitabh and his colleagues deserve all the credit.”

After spending a few days with Mahesh and his family, Jeet returned to Delhi to resume his work at the Research and Analysis Unit, Delhi Police.