Chapter 34

April’ 2003,
Midtown, Manhattan Borough, NY.

“Kalki called me an hour back”, Rekha said. “Oh that’s great, what’s up?” Aryan asked. “Nothing much, a routine call. We spoke about your visit to the city the other day,” Rekha replied. “She started phoning you very often lately”, he asked, “Isn’t she?”

“Oh yeah! She takes pleasure in talking with me” Rekha said. “Just like in talking to me” Aryan snap back. While they were engaged in talking and lounging in the living room Aryan heard a tocsin approaching the entrance of the house.

Three MUV’s, couple of SUV’s and Coupes, came to a standstill in the foyer. The security personnel were rendered speechless with the arrival of the automobiles. Never had they ever seen large congregation of vehicles slewing in a gust inside the edifice on an odd time period. Aryan was easy in his minds that everything at home was in fine fettle and up to the snuff. He wondered what would be the reason for their arrival.

“Excuse me,” said an officer dressed in utterly business casual attire except with a navy blue jacket emblazoned with the FBI seal, “This is FBI! We have a notice in a corporate fraud and an FIR filed against Mr. Vivek Hadar, the full time CFO for the SS Chemical Industry, a Germany based company established by Shekar, an USAn origin Founder and current CEO. We have to bring in your husband for an inquisition, now if you please excuse us,” he said but Rekha interposed herself into scene.

“Mr. Officer, your investigation needs an approval from the district magistrate,” she said getting herself on to feet composing tranquillity, “Now if you don’t mind,” she trod towards the senior agent, “could you please show me the warranted papers,” she said extending her palm out.

“I am sorry Mrs. Vivek, the district magistrate has no appertain over the issue. Your assertion is valid when we investigate a corruption or a real-estate fraud or an insurance fraud likewise and there are variants though, it’s intricate complexities in the law and I am not under any legal obligation to talk it out at this time,” the officer continued, “but you can have a look at the clearance from the federal govt. for the investigation on the offence, here” he said surrendering legal papers to Rekha. At the same minutes, Vivek was on his way on the staircase into the living room. The house was in absolute chaos, none of the family members in addition to valets, retainers, lackeys had seen the light about the happening. “Mr. Vivek, would you please go through the papers and confirm on’em,” the senior agent uttered as he realised the attendance of Vivek. The official handed over a ten paged legal papers taken out of a docket to him. In the intervening period Rekha stepped in, “Mr. Officer, what is the problem here?”

“Mrs. Vivek, the company for which your husband serves as the CFO has undertaken a massive fraud by capitalising the cost which should have been expensed. The company under the supervision of CFO failed to account for the total expenses in a current period and in addition they have produced a report with the expenses spread over several years helping the company to capitalise on its cost. They marked these expenses as long term investments and misclassified the actual expenses of the company. Apparently $2 billion expenses we’re undocumented making them showcase as the assets of the company,”

“What?” Rekha in all respects was disconcerted by the facts, “that cannot be the case,” she took the stance of defence, “It had only been weeks since his assignation as the full time CFO. Prior to it he was an acting CFO and I’d like to let you know that he had never taken a wrong step during his entire tenure because if truth be told, he was literally an ‘acting CFO’. He never cared to look up on the financial affairs of the company, every declaration on each penny was all done by the sub-ordinate officials under the current CEO,” she communicated distinctly.

“I am sorry Mrs. Vivek, we have evidence…”, the officer pointed to the wad of legal papers with Vivek while he was holding with his right hand scuffling to ingest the content of the paper, the officer continued, “…that reads, Mr. Vivek, himself agreed and signed the document for the mismanagement he undertook in the financial accounts of the company,”

“What the heck?” Rekha was baffled with the officer’s allegation, “My husband is innocent, and he had never signed such an agreement without my knowledge. You must be mistaken”, Rekha casted her eyes over Vivek and asked “Vivek what have you got to say?”

“Rekha, this document professes that I have accepted the fraud. It imputes the censure to the family of Hadars”, Vivek plummeted to the ground in an inordinate disbelief on what he had perused. Rekha and Aryan scampered towards him in a haste.

“We comply to our orders and we request you to vacate the house in an hour”, the agent said, Rekha was appalled at the Hadars incompetence and had the hunch of a gun shot fired at the point blank. The agent continued, “We’d be seizing the property including all your belongings in restitution”, he motioned to his comrades “The case had been registered under the civil asset forfeiture. So, we have no charges to file against the Hadars except to seize the property,”

Beads of sweat appeared on the forehead of Aryan, “The law enforcement is a heck in civilians’ lives,” he busted out in frenzy of ire, “what’s a civil forfeiture?” he questioned the agent from FBI.

“Mr. Aryan,” the agent checked on his identity. Aryan nodded and the agent continued, “Civil Forfeiture ratifies law enforcement to seize the property and any other gains appropriated illegitimately or that has been involved in certain criminal activity. The owner of the assets and securities doesn’t need to be felonious. The tool takes charge only over the property and not on the proprietor,”

“But we are innocent,” Rekha interjected his discourse. “You can be totally innocent and that doesn’t stop the govt. from conducting its legal proceedings. To bring into the light, the ‘innocent owner defense’ is not constitutionally required under the jurisdiction of Supreme Court,” he elucidated.

“How do I challenge the forfeiture?” Rekha asked in an immoderate aggravation. “Never mind!” the agent blurted out, “I suggest you to chop up your aspirations. Under over a sufficiently long career, I have been a bystander for several owners hankering to claim their property and securities back,” he walked towards the couch with a smirk and flumped, “None of them had been successful and if you wish to play the odds against my suggestion, you do have your freedom,” he leaned back on the backrest, “but please be abreast of the fact that the assets and securities will be held liable for the crime until you prove the innocence out of your allegation with a testimony. To be precise with your case, you will be under the moral imperative to manifest on your unawareness of Hadars indulgence in a misappropriation or that you had taken lawful stance judiciously to abort any acts proscribed under the law,” he finished his disquisition.

Vivek didn’t throb his cells and nerves after plummeting to the ground. Vivek stayed cold with the drool spouting from his mouth. “Vivek,” Rekha shrieked but he remained unresponsive. “Daddy,” Aryan squealed in a state of dizziness, his nostril flared. Vivek looked terrified with the conviction be holding a lot of pressure on his chest and he felt difficulty in breathing. Couple of the lackeys accompanied Aryan with Vivek and in seconds they were inside the Rolls Royce.

Rekha flitted nervously her eyes on Aryan, a twinge of panic ran through his bowels. On one side, they were asked to vacate the house in an hour leaving no choice and time to be thoughtful for acting and on the other side, Vivek had drowned in a health issue and Aryan didn’t even know how substantial it was with his father. He was wandering in the middle of nowhere. Rekha was dejected and screamed all through her heart out. Aryan knew how strong she was and yet he saw her in a traumatized state. Never had he seen, not even in his wildest dreams, with an ocean of tears pouring out from her eyes. He persisted being in passive for everything that was happening to the family of Hadars. He was utterly terrified; that only sent a shudder down his spine. He was trembled in losing consciousness, and he perceived everything around him to be dead dark. He could only see Rekha moaning and Vivek laid down in the back seat sombre. He shut his eyes and Kalki flashed in to the picture. He was reminded of her words, whenever you feel you are in danger, join your hands, feel the presence of God in your heart, with all the respect and trust, pray for him and for the first time ever, he joined his hands and spoke in an undertone, God, save us.