“Know what JJ, you’re like a brother to me man,” said my
friend PK with that particular look which suggested he wanted to take advantage
of me. Everybody does that, I just don’t know why.
“You know there’s this land I’ve taken as a tenant.” Whispered
PK. “It’s screwed up in a court case.”
“This property which was leased out to one Ramesh Naik for
ten years by the landlord and we took the land after his agreement ended. Now
we’ve been cultivating the land till date and suddenly this Ramesh guy comes
and says the landlord and I forcefully evicted him from the land.”
“So he’s filed a case to get back his tenancy?” “Yes, and
worse still, he’s got pretty strong evidence-all the past bills and receipts,
all the bloody paperwork. We fear the landlord might also back him. No lawyer’s
taking our case.”
“And why tell me this?”
“Word on the farms is that you know a pretty good lawyer.
You know, the guy who pulled off a public interest litigation case for the
farmers club”
Damn. People think I
have loads of high profile contacts as I work in the media. I do know some
people, but I dont let other people use my contacts. Worse still, this guy was
after the ace up my sleeve.
I scribbled a number on a little chit and offered it to him.
“Tried that, it’s not reachable.”
“In that case, Mr PK, I can’t help you. The only thing I had
is the guy’s number and now he’s probably changed it.” “Hey just please try and locate him man, you
work in the media! Nothing’s impossible for you!...for the old times sake!”
I would have done
other things but what he was asking now was equivalent to catching the flowing
wind. They say the guy is so skilled in property matters that his friends call
him “the lord of the lost lands.” He is
known to keep a mysterious black diary which records the cases he has fought
the mistakes he has made and the lessons he has learnt from them. It is from
that diary and from the deadly deals he has made both inside and outside the courtroom
that he gets his code name
The Black Devil.
For the old times sake, I agreed to hunt down Black Devil.
It was a difficult task because for all his talent in law,
the Black Devil has one terrible drawback. This whimsical ‘landlord’ generally swings
to the tunes of fusion music and occasionally dabbles into photography. The
only thing that can get him working on a case is his mood. He does what he wants the way he wants. Otherwise
just forget it.
I didn’t know his address, he had changed his phone and his
own office was, as usual, closed. But
just then I had a crazy idea.
I sat in my office next morning searching for press notes
about all the music concerts going on across Goa-there were about ten. The
black devil had a good ear for music so he’d obviously choose the best ones
among the concerts and the best were as always at Kala Academy.
I dashed in into the auditorium, straight to the first seat
to the far left of the stage. Hello there, Devil”. The lanky dark man swinging
to the tunes of ongoing music opened his eyes. “Hello JJ. Good to see you
here.” “good to see you too Devil, I….” “Listen to the drummer. You know he’s
playing a Kayada in Hindustani classical music even though it’s western…”
I waited until the concert ended, partly enjoying it myself
as the black devil explained how to compare western and Indian musical notes
while listening to a fusion concert. I made my move when the music neared its
end. “You must listen to the usion
concert by renowned Goan musician Ravi Chari next week. I’ve got the passes.”
The devil smiled and nodded in acceptance. “Meet me in the
KA canteen at 5 in the evening on the day of the concert. I will give you the
passes. The concert starts at5 :30” I told the Devil, satisfied that he had
walked into my trap.
The concert was real, the passes were real but the time
wasn’t.
“The concert starts at 7. I called you little earlier
because I have a case for you.”
To my surprise, the black Devil laughed out loud “I knew
that from the beginning! Knowing you, you won’t go around distributing passes
for free right? I also thought its time I warm up my law skills for a change.” he
opened his black diary.
“What’s the case?”
I immediately outlined the case which he noted in his diary.
He picked up his briefcase. “You’re not staying for the concert? “No. one shot,
one kill. One task at a time. Now see
you in the court of law.”
The case came up for hearing in the civil court next day
with the plaintiff Ramesh Naik praying before the court that he was forcefully
evicted by PK and the landlord from the land he had been cultivating and demanded
the restoration of his tenancy.
“Let me bring to the notice of your honour, that the case of
the plaintiff is that he has been forcefully evicted by my client and the land
lord frim the suit property.” Argued the black devil citing various Supreme
Court judgments. . “I completely deny this statement of the plaintiff as it is fraudulent
statement made to mislead the court.” He
exhibited the copy of the expired lease agreement
“Even if we hold that the plaintiff was forcefully evicted
from the land, he is not in possession of the property. The case is not maintainable
before the honorable court as the jurisdiction on the issue of declaration of
tenancy lies with the learned Mamletdar” he thumped his file down on the table with a theatrical
aggression
Thanks to the Devils
impeccable stand, the suit of the plaintiff was dismissed. “lets make further preparations” the Devil
whispered to his client “the case will go up to the high court. Please call the
landlord, I got a plan”
Satisfied that the previously hopeless case had been swung
in his favour, PK met the Black Devil at his office the next morning. The dust
on the files indicated that the office had not been opened in months.
“so whats the plan? Asked the hopeful PK.
“You Mr. PK are surrendering your tenancy.” “what?” “ I have already negotiated the terms
of settlement with the landlord. Now sign these documents.” “No.” “if you don’t,
I leave the case.” “Umm.. Can I please use your toilet?” asked
PK. “sure.”
“Oi JJ,” screamed PK as he narrated tale up to this point stating that far from
gaining anything in the matter, he was
now losing what he had. “Trust the Devil PK. Do what he says. You both gain
from it.” I replied.
PK and the landlord met with the Devil signing an agreement
outside the court which stated that the tannency was surrendered in 1985 which
was way before filing of the civil suit by Mr. Naik! “Now, in exchange of this
surrender, you,, Mr Landlord will agree in the high court that PK here is your tenant.”
It was a dubious and dark deal. The landlord in a euphoric mood after gaining
back his disputed property agreed the same without a hitch when the previous tenant
appealed to the high court. PK was the man!
The tenacious plaintiff dragged the issue further dragged
the issue to the supreme court, only to be directed by the Supreme Court that
the jurisdiction to decide upon tanency lay with the Mamletdar. The case now
stood before the Mamletdar where plaintiff filed for restoration of possession
and declaration of his tenancy.
“Aha! Now its time we close the case.” exclaimed the black
devil. I might need a little help from you here JJ.” He explained. “ make contact
with Ramesh Naik.
“I advise to withdraw your case Mr. Naik” the black Devil
told the old lease holder. “or else your legal hairs and mundkars are waiting
to file a complaint against you for not bringing them on record as parties to
your disputed property. Agree to vwithraw the case and I will see to it that
you get at least a part of the property. ” Afraid that his off the record hairs
might force him to partition what little property he sought, Ramesh Naik agreed
to the proposal. “good. Lets meet.” Said the black devil.
He now held a final meeting between Ramesh Naik, PK and the
landlord while I sat as observer.
“I am delighted to inform you Mr PK and Mr Landlord that
Ramesh has withdrawn his case by his own consent. No force, no pressure.” The
Devil said. “now coming to you Mr. Landlord. I suggest you sell the property on
open market and share the amount with my client. If you don’t, a criminal
complaint will be filed against you for constructing back dated documents in
order to disposes my client who is enjoying the peaceful possession of this
property.”
Upon being remembering that it was a 1985 document signd in
2012, the landlord had no choice but to agree.
The property was then sold to a third party and both PK and the land
lord got considerable money with Ramesh Naik getting the sum for two of the
total seven parts of the huge property. The black devil had kept his promise.
“Where were we on the music front now?” asked the black
devil coming back to sanity while I was still dazed by his insane moves inside
and outside the court. “why did you give a part of the property to Ramesh Naik.?
There was no need! The guy was completely ruined as it is!” I asked.
“it was a prt of the plan. It will help protect the houses
of the Mundkars situated in his part of the property. “ said the black Devil. “The
landlord would have evicted them if he’d gotten a chance.”
“you rock at this profession man! I will bring you more
cases. You’ll be the Prince of Properties!” I exclaimed.
“No. we’re done with the cases for now. Want to come do some
photography in the evening light?” he said as if the whole drama had not
happened at all.
The Black Devil is more interested in playing the game of
life enjoing lolling in the green lands rather then making money fighting for
them. In fact fighting for lands is also one of his cherished games. He plays
it if he wants, plays it the way he wants, refusing to be subdued by circumstances
or people.
A truly free spirit.
