137. Accusation And Acquittal

"What is happening in our office? I see a flurry of activities near the MD's (Managing Director's) cabin!" asked Govardahanam. 

Govardhanam was a person, who would keep to himself and won't be bothered about things going around him in the office.

"It seems that a fraud has been committed" said Ganesan. He had just been to the section, where the MD's cabin was located and made some inquiries.

"What kind of a fraud?"

"A sum of three lakh rupees that should have been transferred to a supplier's bank account has, instead, been transferred to some other account."

"How is this possible? It is the Chief Accountant, who handles bank transfer transactions!"

"Someone had used his password and transferred the money to some other account. The supplier firm noticed that it did not receive the payment, only a few days after it had received the payment advice from our firm. The firm then took up the matter with us. Our people checked the records and found that the payment had gone to the account of some unknown person. Only after that, the fraud was discovered. Three weeks had passed during the process. Our management had kept the matter secret. Today, two police officers have come to our office, to investigate the matter" explained Ganesan.

"I think they will be able to find the culprit, by tracing the bank account to which the money has been transferred" said Govardhanam.

"They have traced the account. It seems that the account had been opened only recently and that the account holder withdrew the money and wiped the account clean. The identity proof and address proof given by him were found to be fictitious."

"Do they suspect any of the employees?"

Before Ganesan could answer Govardhanam, the office peon came there and told Govardhanam, "Sir! The MD is calling you."

Two police officers were sitting in the MD's room. As soon as Govardhanam had entered the room, the MD asked him, "Mr. Govardhanam! Did you work in a firm called Vinayaka Enterprises, before joining our firm?"

Taken aback by this question, Govardhanam replied reluctantly, "Yes, sir."

"Why didn't you mention that in your job application?" asked the MD.

"How could he mention it? How could he say that he was dismissed from that firm for embezzling five thousand rupees, while working there as a cashier?" quipped one of the two police officers, in a derisive tone. 

The officer then looked into the eyes of Govardhanam and demanded, "Confess to us that it was you who swindled three lakh rupees, through a fraudulent transfer!" in an intimidating tone.

Govardhanam felt a wave of panic sweeping his body, from head to feet. 

Events that took place ten years back flashed in his mind's screen - his incurring gambling debts, embezzling five thousand rupees from his office on an impulse, to safeguard himself from the threats issued by the money lenders, getting caught, selling his mother's jewellery and paying back to the firm the money embezzled by him, the firm dismissing him, yet showing him some mercy, by not preferring a police complaint, considering that he had paid back the money taken by him, and his turning a new leaf, by taking up a new job and living a disciplined life.

"Are you wondering how we came to know of this? After the fraud had happened, we checked the background of each and every employee of this firm. You joined this firm, ten years before. But you had completed your education twelve years back. When you applied for a job here, you led the management of this firm to believe that you had not worked in any other firm earlier. We were intrigued by the gap of two years. When we probed your background, we found out about your previous employment and your embezzlement. Now, tell us, where the money stolen by you is!"

Govardhanam looked at his MD and pleaded with him, "Sir! It is a fact that I had committed a wrong once. But, after that, I have been living with the determination that I shouldn't make even a small mistake. I don't even know how to do online transfer of money from a bank account. Please believe me."

The MD looked at the police officers.

"You are a suspect. We have to arrest you" said the police officr.

Govardhanam desperately looked at his MD.

The MD shifted his gaze in another direction.

Four days after Govardhanam's arrest, the police found out that a former employee of the firm had committed the fraud and arrested him. Subsequently, Govardhanam was released from police custody.

Two days after Govardhanam was released rom prison, Ganesan, Govardhanam's friend in the office, came to Govardhanam's house..

Govardhanam felt ashamed to look at his friend's face. 

"Take it easy. It has now been proved that you didn't commit the fraud" said Ganesan.

"The wrong I committed ten years back is still haunting me. What a humiliation I had to face! I feel ashamed even to look at you, a friend of mine" said Govardhanam.

"Leave it!" said Ganesan.

"It was the wrong that I had committed in the past that made me a suspect in the eyes of the police. I realize how one misdeed of mine brought me such a fall and humiliation! However, I have one regret."

"What is it?"

"I committed a wrong once. Therefore, the police suspected me. But, I have been living an honest life for the past ten years. Doesn't that honesty have any value?"

"Of course, it has a value!" said Ganesan.

"Don't say something just to appease me. What did I get for being a man of integrity?" countered Govardhanam.

"Your integrity has been recognized. I came here to tell you the good news. But you began to talk about the humiliation suffered by you. I thought I would tell you the news, once you calmed down a little.

"What good news?"

"Though it is now known that you committed no wrong, our MD was a bit unhappy that you had concealed your past, while applying for the job. But, realizing that it was not fair to punish a person who had been working hard for the firm for the past ten years, he has reinstated you. A letter has been sent by the firm reinstating you. You will get that letter in a day or two" said Ganesan.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 14
Possession of Propriety 

Verse 137 (In Tamil)

ozhukkththin eydhuvar mEnmai izhukkaththin
eydhuvar eydhAp pazhi.

Meaning:

One will attain eminence through propriety of conduct. Violation of propriety will lead to insufferable disgrace.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'paNa mOsadi' by the same author)

Verse 138 (Soon)
Verse 136