October 05, 2005

Bangalore scum

Got this forwarded to me by a Bangalore friend while I was in that city yesterday; it was only today that I was able to speak to the person concerned, Nimish Adani. But I was glad to see that today's Bangalore papers carried his news prominently. I was also glad to hear from Nimish when I called that he was on his way to the railway station for an inquiry into this horrifying incident, and that the press was going to be there in force.

All I can add is what I said to Nimish on the phone: please pursue this to the end! Don't let the scum go.

The rest of this is in Nimish's own words.

***

I would like to bring to notice a certain injustice that I have subjected to at the Bangalore Railway Station (Majestic). On September 30 (Friday), 2005, I had been to the station to see off my fiance and her mother. They took the Karnataka Express (Train #2627) to Jhansi at 6:30 pm.

On my way out I was asked to present my platform ticket by a railway official. On producing the same, the TT turned around and told me "What if I say that you haven't given me the ticket?" Before I could react, he along with his colleague pushed me into the adjacent enquiry cabin and physically manhandled me. I was slapped several times, my spectacles were grabbed and deliberately crushed by foot, and my phone was flung away from me. The RPF comprising of one RPF and four constables, appeared on the scene. The surrounding public was whisked away. None of the railway police officials cared to listen to me and they started hitting me indiscriminately with lathis. They dragged me out, and all the 4 constables continued hitting me with lathis from Platform 1 to Platform 3/5, till we reached the station master's cabin. Racist abuses and threats were made on the way. At the station master's cabin, I was told that I have been charged with a non-bailable offence and would be behind bars for 15 days.

Not for a single moment was I allowed to speak. All of a sudden a stranger came to the scene and he claimed that he was there to help me. Having lost all my physical strength and mental senses, I was happy to see some sort of help. He, claiming to be V Srinivas from Infosys, talked to the officials and the railway police in Kannada. He told me that the only way I was to get out was if I was willing to pay my way through. Being in no state to make a rational choice, I gave him my ATM card and pin. He took one of the RPF chaps along with him and said he would clear the matter. He returned some time later saying that everything was okay now.

I was asked to sign a statement which said that I hit the police and TT in a drunken state. I refused. Finally, they pressurized me to write that I did not produce a platform ticket when asked. I wrote the same and then V Srinivas took me out of the station. He joined me in an auto and took me to the ICICI ATM at Anand Rao circle. He withdrew Rs. 15000 from my ATM and got back. he took the cash under the pretext that while helping me he had left his wallet in the train he had left behind and that he would return the same through his ICICI Internet account. Having broken down mentally I did not realise that I was being cheated. He then took me to a Samsung showroom and tried purchasing a cellphone worth Rs. 18500 with my card. It was only then that I realised what was happening. I grabbed my card back, caught him by the collar, snatched my cash that lay in his pocket, and got into a running auto.

I have now realized that all of this was a plan. There is a strong nexus between the railway officials, the railway police and the fraudster. The railway officials identify a victim who they think is well-to-do, the RPF beat that individual till he has no physical or mental well-being. Then this fraud chap comes on to the scene, takes advantage of the situation, and takes all your cash away. Also, this series of events generally occurs on the last day of the month as they know that the salary gets credited on this day. (This strikes me now because the self-proclaimed Infy employee, V Srinivas, clearly asked me whether I had received my salary. He said that he just wanted to find out if there was cash enough to tackle the case.)

Now three days hence, I have tried to run from pillar to post. I have been forced to miss office hours in my effort to get justice. But I don't want to give up the fight midway. ...

Also, please pass this email to all the people who reside in Bangalore, so that they don't fall into the same trap.

Nimish V Adani

9 comments:

Raj said...

Dilip, I don't think one can pronounce judgement after hearing this side of the story. That it could happen at 6.30pm when there were thousands of people in the vicinity - is hard to believe. If it turns out to be true, Nimish will have my sympathies.

Anonymous said...

It is true.. see the news
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct52005/index2042432005104.asp

R. said...

anon 1 is right, this is effing unbelievable! Mind you Bangalore has been known for more than it's share of crime. But in broad daylight and in a public place...

Anonymous said...

Dilip

Thanks for bringing this to our awareness. This is fucking ridiculous.

I would try to trace this V Srinivas character and break his bones.

Sadly not much can be done to the cops etc.

Though I wish they come across someone who will thrash the hell out of them someday.

Years ago, I had heard of an incident which I dont know the veracity of. Vispi Kapadia the karate champ and teacher was travelling in a train to Gujarat, and was in the season pass bogie. He had a season pass but did not travel by that train regularly, so the people who were always in that train didnt recognise him.

At Dahanu the TT got him off the train and wanted to make some money off him. Then some good samaritan came and tried to be the intervener and in the deal tried to force Vispi out of his cash and wallet. Lo and behold vispi and his buddy thrashed the daylights of that good samaritan and a dozen others who jumped in to the fight from the season ticket bogie.

It just goes to prove that

a) there are assholes in all walks of life. The sad part is that the police is a part of that category.

b) It does no good for publicity and media awareness that such stories are out in the news. Bangalore has been getting more than its share of brickbats in recent times and this is one more to add to it.

Am dumbfounded as to how screwed up the politicians can be to kill a "golden egg laying chicken". I mean Bangalore has got everything going for it and they still want to force the IT industry out, and with it foreign investment !!

Dilip D'Souza said...

Arzan, you said: It does no good for publicity and media awareness that such stories are out in the news.

Now I know what you mean, but I would like to say that actually I think it does a lot of good for such stories to come out. It's the only way there will ever be justice. The scumbags count on people not pursuing these things, or forgetting, or not wanting to "get involved" -- and that's why they get away with their crimes. The best image of the country, or Bangalore, will be built when we know that such incidents are rare, and will be punished swiftly and effectively.

Anonymous said...

Dilip,

Thanks for posting this and creating the awareness. IT helps here in creating the awareness.
(I got this via email too)

I was thinking.. God Save India.
but then some comments here show that there are lots of compassionate & shrewd people here.

PLUS ULTRA :
6:30 PM... fine..
thousands of people ... fine

The incident didnot happen open air. It happened inside the railway police room. For eg :- you see a man beinh beaten up inside that room .. do u venture in ? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Namma Aalu Nimish Adani - Oru Kaithiyin Diary ( A Plat Forum Con - stable story)

This happens to many a person. And such issues are hardly addressed:

Firstly I seem to see this in another perspective or should I say "Track"( forgive the pun!) What about the uneducated, illiterate, 4 year old boy who works not in Logix Microsytems but in a small lodge or ekes out a living on the road who gets conned by the mafia boss and the police constable every day ?

So it suddenly takes one " IIML Batch of 2003, ITBHU Batch of 2001" who has access to email, gmail and went to drop his "female" (fiance) to kick up a ruckus like this.

Did it take him a 2 full year course and a trip to the Samsung Showroom to realise he was being conned? Well, doesn't reflect much on our highly regarded Bschool grad or his man-management skills.

My condolences are definitely with him though. But I prefer to feel sad for all those millions who are feeling melancholic for this boy( who lost his toy or didn't) who got his money back and a lot of media attention to boot and a load of free incoming calls to fill his policed soul and already bloated ego.

My favorite parts:

"He told me that the only way I was to get out was if I was willing to pay my way through. Being in no state to make a rational choice, I gave him my ATM card and pin"

"Having broken down mentally I did not realise that I was being cheated. He then took me to a Samsung showroom and tried purchasing a cellphone worth Rs. 18500 with my card. It was only then that I realised what was happening. I grabbed my card back, caught him by the collar, snatched my cash that lay in his pocket, and got into a running auto." ( Pretty athletic, after " being beaten until he has no physical or mental well-being") And running autos? Normally in Bangalore when you say the four letter word"AUTO" they stop!

"I was asked to sign a statement which said that I hit the police and TT in a drunken state. I refused. Finally, they pressurized me to write that I did not produce a platform ticket when asked. I wrote the same and then V Srinivas took me out of the station"


Moral of this story:

Nimish Adani is his name
He works for Logix Systems
IT BHU
IIML graduate
Spam God
Has an account in ICICI
Has a gmail account
144 google search link returns to his name
Has been to a Samsung Showroom
Is "strong enough to pay his way though"
Knows Mr V.Srinivas

Unfortunately still beaten by the system
For more details:
Contact if you have shoulder to cry on at:
@
09886179319 or 08030933067

The only thing missing is his CV! Any HR personnel out here?

Anonymous said...

Finally he drop the case with RPF. When they Questioned on him about place where he got the ticket...For more info see Times of India Bangalore (17th or 18th Oct) 3rd page

Anonymous said...

yes, fucking unbelievable.. but here is the updated deccan herald link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/archives/oct52005/index2042432005104.asp