Catching the Kotwal

A sepoy noticed a young man acting suspiciously at the foot of a hill near Golconda Fort. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” the sepoy asked. The young man appeared nervous and mumbled something unintelligible. That day, a merchant from another kingdom had been murdered, and the authorities suspected that the murderer was a young man who had also come from another kingdom.

The sepoy became suspicious of the stranger, believing him to be the murderer, and took hold of him. He then led him to the Kotwal, who was well-versed in several languages.

“Confess to the murder, young man, for we have more than enough evidence against you,” the Kotwal declared. The young man’s nerves intensified as he confessed, “Sir, you are correct. I did it.”

“What does he say, Sir?” asked the sepoy, who did not understand the language spoken by the young man and the Kotwal.

“He has confessed to his crime,” replied the Kotwal. Then, turning back to the young man, he inquired, “What did you do with the jewels the merchant had with him?”

“Sir, I have hidden them in a pit behind the fort. I will give them to you if you kindly let me leave your town,” the young man said.

“What does he say, Sir? Is it something about the merchant’s jewels?”

“Oh, no. He does not know anything about it. In fact, he is not the murderer. I misunderstood his statement. Very well, sepoy, you may go,” said the Kotwal.

Suddenly, the young man revealed his true identity to the Kotwal through an insignia he carried. He was Salim Khan, a minister of the Nawab.

“We had received reports of your corrupt practices. We just wanted to be sure,” he stated, then turned to the sepoy and commanded, “Arrest the Kotwal.”