Why am I picking you up here?
Because of this fatso, we caught the next flight to Bangalore, and another here.
- There was nothing direct to Kochi? - Neel Sir sent me the tickets.
If an ex-spy can’t find a better route, then what can we do?
- How long to reach the Magistrate? - 4.5 hours.
- We have 3 hours left. - Will someone tell me what the rush is?
-Shut up! -Shut up!
Faster - only 14 minutes left, you can go twice this speed!
- Madam, please. I don’t want to die. - If you don't go faster, she'll kill you!
Look out!
- You're all nuts! - She didn't die, you can go faster!
- But the next one will. - Stop yelling!
- Wait, we've crossed the border. - Yeah... yeah, of course.
- Welcome to Kerala, you're under arrest. - This is madness.
- Stop, stop, stop! - What?!
- What? - We just passed the house.
What is it, so early... ?
Ma'am, we have 6 minutes to spare.
This all looks satisfactory.
I'm remanding Poonam Verma to your custody.
I still don’t understand
why the bureau feels the need to monitor this interrogation?
I’m just following orders.
I have to report back to Central, and I'm counting on your full cooperation.
Is this because of our high profile "guest"?
- I wouldn't know. - I can send you a report.
I’ve got to put eyes on her myself.
You keep repeating the same lie. Tell us, where’s the ivory stored?
What ivory? I told you, I just sell art. I have nothing to do with ivory.
And the longer you keep me here
the more you’ll suffer when my lawyers...
Yeah, we know - you have an army of lawyers, but they’re not here yet.
And we have you legally now.
So either you tell us the truth, or we’ll make you talk.
- I can’t tell you what I don’t know. - How long has she been here?
- Two hours. - Ridiculous... come out.
- Want to get out of here? - Hey "Bureau", you too.
What were you all doing in there - gossiping?
- You should have something by now. - We've been trying to break her.
I'm old, tired, and I can’t hold your hands forever.
These are highly connected monsters, so find a way... do something.
Otherwise I’ll go home, play with my niece, and happily let you all hang.
Her lawyer will arrive soon. If we don't have anything by then
we've lost her, despite Morris Finn and Ravi Don identifying her.
Because if we only have plastic statues, and no ivory
then we have no case.
I'm going to get a coffee for 10 minutes. If you don't get what we need by then
then God help you all.
- What happened? - I'll be back.
Everything okay?
I haven’t slept in days, all I can think of is how to thrash her.
There’s another way, but we'll need some luck.
- I need food. - It's coming.
- What’s your phone password? - Are you a fucking moron?
Either you give it to us, or they’ll threaten you some more
while I put a virus in your phone that unlocks it for me.
9-8-7-6-5...
4.
Look at this.
There are no transactional emails, but there is one from her daughter Shashi
which mentions a “safe house”. I need to access Shashi’s email.
Do you know your daughter’s password?
I swear I don’t.
But she’s innocent - whatever you’re looking for is not there.
- I swear on Lord Ganesh. - Careful, you're asking for it.
It’s okay guys, I can do this.
- Bingo! I’m in Shashi’s account. - How?
I sent young Shashi a Trojan Horse email from Mom’s account
she accepted it.
Oh wow, look at that...
Well Mrs. Verma
looks like your precious daughter is a wildlife enthusiast.
She appears to be dealing in illicit wildlife contraband.
You've all put your hands inside the tigress' mouth.
What do you think
that it's just me alone sitting here, on this shitty chair?
You're disturbing networks that deal in arms, drugs, human trafficking.
You think they’ll go quietly?
You motherfucking forest people.
We can charge your daughter, perhaps even your husband
with poaching, with arms smuggling, ivory smuggling, money laundering
and even tax evasion.
That would be life in prison.
- Should we get a warrant for them? - No, please.
I’ll cooperate.
I’ve never done any smuggling
but my husband keeps a small stash.
Just a few kilos, stored in a safe house.
But it’s old ivory, from decades ago.
I’ll give you that, but leave my daughter alone.
- Where’s the safe house? - In Delhi.
East Delhi.
It’s a dense area, difficult to move around.
People congregate, there can be riots anytime.
- It's a rented flat there. - I see the area, give me the landmarks.
- What do you have? - Sir, a location.
- It’s the second or third signal... - Wait a minute.
- Please step outside. - What?
- Please step outside, I’ll explain. - No, I need to hear this.
I won't ask again.
Babu, close the door.
Carry on.
It’s the second or third signal from the Lakshmi Nagar junction.
After that there's an alleyway - go by foot, as it turns left.
Then walk for a minute. There’s a small alleyway to the right.
First door on the right after that turn, that's it.
It's a brown door with flowers carved into it.
Yeah there, next to the dumpster.
The key?
In my flat, there’s a dresser.
The third locker inside has a black bag.
On the inside of the bag, there’s a zipper.
In that pocket are a bunch of keys, all brand new.
But one is rusted. That’s the safe house key.
So you have sold ivory?
Just small amounts, once.
- To whom? - Ask Ravi Don.
I don’t know where he is.
Come out.
For you...
Who is this?
This is IPS Khera, Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Delhi.
Yes Madam, yes... we spoke some time ago. Tell me...
I remember, Mr. Banerjee.
Tell me why you’ve asked my officer to leave the interrogation?
Madam, there was sensitive information being divulged about a Delhi safehouse.
In fact, we were just coming, to seize the ivory there.
Great - send me the details, my team will seize the contraband.
I can’t do that, Madam. We have the location, we’re coming to Delhi again.
We need you as backup, and one of your officers, who helped us earlier...
- Where's the location? - I can't tell you.
Are you joking?
Madam, this case comes under a Kerala court order.
The ivory was poached from here, and taken to Delhi.
We're coming to reclaim it, not place it in an evidence locker in Delhi
where, I'm sorry to say, Madam...
evidence often gets lost to 'termites' and 'rats'.
Who do you think you are? I’m not some trainee.
I know how to handle sensitive cases, and Delhi is my territory...
Madam, I completely understand.
But I’ve been on this case since day one
and unless you’re on my core team
you are on a ‘need to know’ basis, understand?
We’re not even carrying the suspect with us to Delhi.
We don’t know the precise location, and it’s a hostile environment.
So we need to be clever about this, and we need you as backup.
- We are still on the same team. - You southerners are all alike.
Fine, if you can’t trust us, we can’t trust you.
- So no backup? - Nope.
Hello?
What the fuck, I’m not even a southerner.
My orders stand.
I’m to remain here until Poonam Verma’s interrogation concludes.
Fine, remain right there.
Come, we need to talk.
I was saying... the ivory is not in Poonam Verma's house.
Months ago, she moved it out, after hearing of Morris Finn's arrest.
And for all we know, her family's now moving the stash from the safehouse.
We need to get there and seize whatever we can find, immediately.
Sir - maybe it’s best the bureau handle this, if time is of the essence?
They want operational control, but I don't trust anyone outside of our team.
Hello, Madam...
Stay right there, you can't go in alone - we're coming.
What about my colleague, Nupu? She’s solid.
Isn’t she in marketing? We need a field person
who can find the ivory, manage local resistance
and ship it back here, without anyone knowing.
You two go. Yes... go, get the ivory.
- Before they move it again. - Sir, without any local help?
- Get those two constables. - Sir, I don’t know...
Who’s going to stop you? I'll tell you what... Santosh!
Here... take him along.
But the seizure must be made in the presence of the accused
or the evidence has less value.
There’s no way I’m letting this witch go back home, we’ll lose her.
Let the evidence carry less value, we’ll deal with it. Go... leave.
Go... okay.
- Adil, come. - Back to Delhi.
Mr. Ravi Don...
We have everyone in custody, including Poonam Verma.
And we know the location of the ivory in Delhi.
Now, we need your help in deciphering this.
How do we want to do this?
Mr. Shekhar! I thought the bureau wasn’t getting involved?
They're not, but nobody can stop me from meeting friends at the airport.
Have you slept at all?
Not a wink for three days.
The agents are the real villains - they even victimize the poachers.
It’s the Poonam Verma's and Ravi Don's, and their lawyers
who tell villagers: 'keep shooting, we’ll take care of the rest. ’
And if a shooter gets caught, these agents... they just move on
and find another shooter.
Bloody Verma.
We have to nail her to the wall.
Cripple her, so that the others get the message.
It’s a sensitive community, be discreet.
It's prone to police incursions and communal violence.
For now we just want to check the place out.
We'll return in the morning with the key, and properly seize everything.
We just don’t want to waste time searching for it in broad daylight.
I say we forget the key, break the door down now, and take it all.
No, no - it will attract a lot of attention.
It's safer if we have a key. You go, I'll turn the car around and wait.
Let's do it.
- We came from the wrong side. - It's alright, it's all a grid.
There should be an alley here somewhere...
Let's stick to Malayalam.
She said the door had a rose carving... there.
Nothing to see here guys, just a midnight selfie in a dark alley.
- Is this the location? - Yeah.
- Can I sleep now? - Not until they have it.
Why don’t you take a break?
- We’re just leaving. - Okay.
It's exactly where she said.
Santosh, we need you to stay here, to ensure nothing is transported out.
Uh...
We wouldn’t ask if it wasn't important.
- I have a family. - We all do.
Don’t leave me for too long, mob lynching doesn't suit me.
We’ll be right back.
- I’m getting chai, want some? - Yes, thank you.
- Is that Neel Sir? - Yeah.
Neel Sir - how come you're here?
I took the next flight out. You need all the help you can get.
We’re glad to see you, Sir.
Let’s nail this motherfucker to the wall.
Let us through.
Good morning.
- Where’s my wife? - She's absolutely fine.
She asked us to pick up a key for a safe house, please get it.
- You lied about the courthouse... - Back off.
- Give us the key, and we’ll leave. - Listen, brother...
we found lots of emails that implicate you in this case.
Cooperate with us, unless you want to join your wife.
Hold on... the key's in the bedroom, right? Then why are we out here?
Let's go in and find it.
There nothing’s in there.
There's nothing there - what are you doing?
- That's personal... hello! - No rusted key.
- Let me see? - I told you, there’s nothing there.
Are you all deaf?
- Alan... - Sir.
Be careful with my things...
Poonam may have gotten hold of a phone through someone
and told him what to do.
Or he already knew to move the key.
Babu’s guarding Poonam, he would never leave her alone.
Even Babu has to take a break.
It could even be that the safe house stock has already been moved.
If we don’t have her on possession charges
then we have nothing.
We were so close.
You must know that we also have evidence against your daughter?
Start talking, or I'm taking her to the station - is she ready for prison?
Tihar Jail has a brand new women’s facility - shall I take your baby there?
Is this what you signed up for when you married Poonam?
She’s surely not the princess you thought...
are you willing to send your daughter to jail for her?
Because if I don’t get this fucking key... I will drag her out of here.
I’ll call our caretaker in Lakshmi Nagar
- he can take you to the flat. - Great.
- Hello, Bahadur? - Yes, Sir?
I’m sending some people to the flat.
Let them in, they're looking to pick up a box, okay?
Sure, Sir.
Meet Bahadur there, he'll help you find the box.
It’s marked ‘import’, and has a few kilos of raw ivory inside.
- Perfect. - Well done.
And please let Bahadur go, he's done nothing wrong.
Of course, Sir.
- You made it. - Yeah.
- Did anyone remove anything? - No.
- Bahadur. -Yes, Sir.
- Take us inside. - Yes Sir, this way.
- When was the last time anyone came? - It’s been weeks.
- And they rent the place from you? - They pay me 2000/month, in cash
which I give to the building owner.
- Do you know what’s inside? - No.
- And you dealt with Poonam directly? - Yes.
- Never her husband or daughter? - No, they've never been here.
I was asked to show you this.
Raw ivory.
- What’s happening? - Looks like a raid.
Raid? What are they raiding?
Don’t know, but it must be valuable.
Well, we got what we were promised.
But if we go by what Morris Finn and Ravi Don said
then Poonam has smuggled a hell of a lot more than a few kilos.
- We should check every box. - Right.
Plastic.
Maybe you were right, Sir - they moved everything.
But Bahadur would have known.
We could squeeze Poonam’s family harder, they may know more.
More coercion could lead to issues down the line, ask Dina about that.
- Uh, Neel Sir... - Yes?
Looks like they didn’t move all of their stock in time.
Open every single one, quickly. Don't miss anything.
And you wait here - there’s no way you didn’t know about this.
- Neel, tell me. - Yes, Minister Sir, we found it all.
- How much is there? - Not sure yet.
But I suspect there’s more money in here than a bank vault.
- SHO Sir, what's happening inside? - Excuse me...
Is it a drug seizure? What are you hiding?
Stay back, make sure this doesn't turn into a riot.
- And find out what you can. - Yes, Sir.
12.2 kg.
What the hell?
Yes, Sir...
We've brought juice and snacks.
- Give it to everyone. - Yes, Sir.
Sir, we’ve found 360 kg of ivory so far, some carved, some raw.
The largest ever seizure in India before this was 51 kg.
This Poonam Verma is a monster.
We have a new problem - the crowd is becoming defiant.
Sir... everyone thinks there’s gold in here.
It’s more valuable than gold.
If they come up here, we're done for.
...No sir, I can’t speak to the press now.
Just a short briefing, we should be proud of this raid, let them share in it.
But Sir, we still have to get all of this back to Kerala immediately.
If the press breaks the news
and people learn the value of what’s in here, we're finished.
I’ll leave you to make the call, but you know my thoughts.
Yes Sir, okay.
- Sir, you need a doctor. - No, I’m fine.
We just need to get out of here fast... can we get more officers?
- I’d have to ask for permission. - No, we can’t alert anyone
or we'll lose all of this in a jurisdictional game.
We need to get this to Kerala, now.
Well then, we'll leave it to God's Will.
- Santosh... - Yes, Sir?
- I have a vital task for you. - Okay.
- If you fail, we’re finished. - Yes, Sir.
Everyone, this is Vishal, head of the Wildlife Trust of India.
- Hello, Sir. - Hi, Nupu.
We’ve secured a truck to take the ivory to the airport.
Assuming we get out of here.
- How much so far? - I don't know...
- Over 300 kg. - What?!
It’s a theriocide.
I'm a wildlife inspector, what is all of this?
Shit, it never ends... I know this guy, rotten to the core.
With the money involved here, he's as much of a threat as the people outside.
I got a call from the bureau, I'm here to file a report.
But brother, this doesn’t belong to the Delhi Forest Department.
- This is ivory. - Come on...
And last I looked, this is Delhi.
Why don't you let us finish packing, and then we'll figure out where it goes.
We’re doing the labour, so you can relax, have a juice.
Fuck.
The cops are inside, and the press is here, from the South.
I think they’re counting gold that they found.
- In there? - Yeah.
Alright - gather the boys.
There’s no way the Delhi Police is taking what belongs to us - hurry up.
Tell us what is happening... Why are you hiding?
You have to tell us!
- Call the reporters inside. - What?!
We have to try something, call them inside.
Jivan, Jivan...
- Let them in. - Sir, what can you tell us?
Everything is off, off, off... right now! Switch off! Madam, turn it off!
All of this is... off the record, okay?
I realize you’re here for a big story.
But if I tell you everything, this entire operation will end here and now.
Please calm them down!
They’re agitated because of you, tell them there’s nothing valuable here.
We’re unarmed, and just trying to do our jobs.
- We're just trying to do our jobs too. - What's inside?
In return, I promise... when we reach Kerala, you'll have an exclusive.
But let us finish this, and get out safely.
- Please, help us. - An exclusive, right?
Done Sir, we’ll do it, don't worry. Come on guys, move, fast.
Excuse me.
Madam madam... one minute.
- Hello, Sir. - Hi.
- Santosh. - Please have a seat.
- You’re from the Forest Department? - Yes, Kerala.
- What can I do for you? - I have a big favour to ask.
Tell me...
You like elephants?
...It's nothing like that, it's just paperwork.
We're reporters, we've seen this before, there's no cover up.
- We know there's gold inside. - You've cut a deal!
Looks like your plan isn't working. How many more boxes?
- Just three. - We’re cutting it close.
I have my men in the crowd, it looks like something is brewing.
- How soon can we leave? - We’re going as fast as we can.
If we don't pack these properly, they’ll be destroyed in transit.
There’s nothing in there, just paperwork!
You’re lying, it’s gold, and it belongs to us!
Back off!
Where are our boys, we need them here now, motherfucker!
I called them, they’re all at the theatre festival.
Start loading, quickly.
Mala, finish the inventory in the meantime.
Enjoying the adventure?
You know, actually I prefer to do my job without threat of lynching.
You'll never get far in wildlife crime fighting then.
Good, I’m retiring soon anyway... thank you Shekhar.
You’ve made history today - amazing job.
But watch it, the next few minutes could be it.
I’m going to slip out - I’m too old for this.
Of course, Sir. Thank you.
I’m serious, be careful.
There are more fights out there we need you for.
Hurry hurry...
How's it looking?
Not good - there's trouble heading this way.
- Miss Mala, hurry up! - All done, Sir!
Our boys are here. Hey assholes, hurry up, move!
Meet us at your office, we’ll be protected in the complex.
- I’ll be waiting. - Yeah.
We’ll contain the crowd here, but after that you’re on your own.
We can’t get involved in transporting this, or...
I get it, you'll have to ask your superiors. Thank you for everything.
Everyone take alternate routes, you know where to meet.
- Mala... - Yes, Sir!
- Shit, I didn’t say bye. - No time for that. Move it!
Sunita! Sunita!
Where are you fuckers taking our stuff!
Hurry up, assholes!
Mala, close the window!
Go through them!
Close the window.
Go go... fast!
Adventure.
Looks like our media truce is over. Faster, my friend, go for it!
For luck.
Shit, the media is after them.
Whoever has the fastest driver now, wins. Show them what you've got!
Where did you find this guy?
He was the last favour I could pull - hopefully, he's good.
Sir, I’ve driven in war zones, this is nothing.
Stop!
Okay go - step on it. Let's go!
Faster.
Go high, and then at the last minute, low.
Got it, Sir.
- Is that your philosophy in life? - I’ll try it this one time.
This is way better than transporting coriander.
Sir, it's them.
Hello, Sir.
- Come. - Let's go.
Is this your doing, Sir?
Nope.
- Santosh sweet-talked the airline. - The manager loves Lord Ganesha.
I'm not getting on that plane.
You should've thought of that before storing the ivory, come on.
Sir, that's the manager.
Hi, Neel Banerjee - Field Director, Kerala Forest Department.
- Welcome, Sir. - Thanks for all your help.
- Sir, what is all of this? - None of your business, help them!
Careful.
- I said careful! - Alan, hurry up!
How much does your cargo weigh?
- Huh? - Your cargo's weight?
- Just under 500 kg. - How many elephants is that?
- It was around 50... all killed. - 50...
Okay Sir... don't let these monsters get away.
You're good to go, I'll take care of the rest.
- Santosh. - Yes, Sir.
- Let's board. - Thank you Sir, thank you.
- Okay Sir, last box. - Mala, Alan... come.
Take care.
Mala, Alan - come!
- What? I can't hear you! - Until the next Hindi movie!
Oh shit...
- Alan! - Sir, coming!
Come fast!
- Go... - Sorry.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
We apologize for the slight delay at the cargo hangar.
Cabin crew, prepare for departure.
Sir, what about that Inspector?
By the time he can make a stink, we’ll be 2500 km away.
And the ivory will be there, where it belongs.
What’s that, Sir?
I'm not sure you want to know.
Madam, someone for you.
...It is in fact the largest ivory raid in the history of the country.
Found in an art dealer’s safe house in Delhi
and part of a national poaching and smuggling ring
that has been going on for years.
- And that's how many elephants? - Hard to say, maybe hundreds.
At this rate, elephants in Kerala would have been wiped out within a decade.
Isn’t it your fault that these poachers got away with it for so long?
We admit... protection in the region has been poor
and we are working on a new protection plan.
We need to ensure that all areas are properly scouted.
And our officers get to spend maximum time in the reserves
camping and monitoring.
Have the others surrendered?
Yes. In fact, between our forest team here in Thundathil Range
other teams from all over Kerala, and the WCCB
we've charged 74 people over the last several days.
It consists of middle men - the drivers, smugglers, carriers, carvers, gunsmiths.
And what about the custodial torture case against the Forest Department?
See... our Trivandrum DFO has been cleared of all such false accusations.
And shame on you all for entertaining a poacher’s revenge plot.
It’s the same as you all idolizing the Veerappan's of the world.
We’ll use this stockpile as evidence for now and
once the convictions come, our plan is to burn it.
I hope the Chief Wildlife Wardens of other states get the message
and they too burn their stockpiles.
Come in.
This is Alan, one of our leads in this investigation.
And Mala you just met.
Mr. Menon, from the Central Bureau of Investigation.
So as I was saying - the CBI is very impressed.
The way your team has worked this case is truly commendable.
What I don't understand is why you've called me here?
I need your help, Mr. Menon, to catch these ivory consumers.
The biggest revelation of this case was that
it's not just the Chinese who are buying, but Indians too.
- Do you have any leads? - Certainly.
We have names from Ravi Don’s confession.
And the Trivandrum DFO found Ravi Don's personal diary
in which there are even more names, addresses and numbers.
These are some of the wealthiest
some of the most influential Indian industrialists
- Yes. - ... with a global reach.
- Yes, of course. - Middle East, Europe...
This is... an international matter.
It's vital you get these people - they're the first accused.
They order the assassination of elephants to fill up their palaces
and they're all out of my reach.
If they stop ordering, the supply chain halts, and poaching ends.
Okay.
I will be keeping these.
So Sir, we hope you'll take up this case.
Congratulations, your team has done brilliant work.
You guys should be proud of yourselves.
And there you have it - a pat on the back, and goodbye.
So they won't help?
- They could, but they won't. - Why not?
Because some of those buyers can influence governments.
So we'll do it - our names are not in this investigation.
Nobody will know we're involved.
- It's too dangerous. - Sir, let us decide that.
Are you prepared to put your mother in danger?
It doesn’t matter how quietly you do it.
If you are going after them, they'll find it out.
What about RAW intelligence?
RAW is monitoring the trade routes, following the money trail
and seeing if it ends up in terrorists' hands.
And for them, catching poachers themselves is meaningless.
And certainly... they have no care in finding the wealthy
who display tusks in their back offices.
- It’s just a big game for them. - A game?
Go back home, take time off.
You have done your part for now, and earned a break.
Just in case.
Come - don't you have to pick up those puppies?
They're the next animals that need saving.
How can you say that?
Those assholes are just going to order more tusks.
I know... but those puppies aren’t going to wait forever.
- Hello? - Hello. How are you?
Surprised to hear from you during office hours.
That important case I told you about... we finally solved it.
So I thought I'd check in. All okay at home?
Same as always.
Listen, I’m just going to lunch with Jyoti, can we speak later?
Oh... okay...
I was just wondering... would you consider cancelling the lunch
and meeting me at Dr. Yadav’s clinic?
Why, what happened?
I need to tell you something.
Alan, not to be a pest, but we've been walking for ages now
- do you know where we're going? - Almost there.
It's a special spot I want to show you, and then we can camp nearby.
Come... see that?
Come... no need to be scared.
See how it's curled up in a ball? That's because it's scared of us.
These pythons mostly feed on rodents and birds.
So they act as pest control.
Unlike humans, they only attack if you attack them first.
Snake charmer.
So back to the bird sanctuary after this?
Part time. I'll be involved in the prosecution of the poachers.
Especially Poonam Verma, who will fight us tooth and nail until the end.
And Alan's already on the heels of a new gang.
So no break?
Haven't you learned anything from me?
What is it?
- What do you think? - An elephant?
- It was murdered... poached. - Why?
We’ll explain it all - we just wanted to show you this spot, and let you know
we caught most of the bad people who did this.
- Most? - We'll catch them all.
It’s getting dark.
There's a rocky area on that high ground - we'll camp there.
- Papa... - What is it?
- Can we save them? - Of course we can.
Not every single individual, but we can save the species.
- How? - Simple...
All we have to do is leave nature alone.
It will take care of itself, and us too.
If it's damaged, it recovers and rebuilds.
This is what my colleagues are trying to do
buy land and let nature re-wild itself.
- Did you know elephants need tall forests? - My backpack...
It’s okay, keep going - I'll get it.