Salem District Court – Final Hearing Day
The sky outside rumbled, cloaked in heavy monsoon clouds. Inside the courtroom, however, a storm was already raging.
Mano Kanagaraj adjusted his advocate's robe one last time and took his place at the petitioner's table. To his left, sat Ramasamy, safe but still visibly scarred from weeks of captivity. To his right, Advocate Jothi, reviewing the final bundle of documents.
Opposite him: MLA Arumugam, bold enough to appear in person, surrounded by men in expensive suits and his senior advocate, Jayaraman.
The courtroom was packed—law students, fellow lawyers, press, even retired judges. Everyone had come to see the lawyer who returned from the dead take on a corrupt titan.
---
Judge Vijayalakshmi entered, her presence quieting the room instantly.
"We begin final arguments in the matter of State vs Arumugam & Ors. under IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B. Prosecution, proceed."
Mano rose.
"Your Honour, we have filed more than 120 pages of authenticated government documents, NIC server logs, forensic analysis of registry entries, and sworn testimony from Village Administrative Officer Ramasamy—all pointing to a single criminal enterprise designed to steal, forge, and resell government land."
He paused.
"This is not just forgery. This is systemic betrayal."
> [Lex System Activated: Lex Strike Initiated]
Chain Move Unlocked:
1. Evidence Submission
2. Witness Testimony
3. Expert Affidavit
4. Legal Precedents
Chain Success Rate: 94%
Mano submitted an expert affidavit from a digital forensic analyst confirming unauthorized access to NIC systems from a VPN in Dubai—traced back to a proxy server owned by Arumugam's brother-in-law.
He submitted bank records of bribes transferred to Tehsildar Dhasarathan's wife.
He submitted property records showing land parcels transferred to fake identities—later sold to Arumugam's shell company.
---
Jayaraman rose.
"Your Honour, we reject all these as circumstantial. The honourable MLA has no direct connection to these transactions. The witness, Ramasamy, was kidnapped—who knows what he was told to say?"
Ramasamy stood, trembling. "I was told to stay quiet. But now, I say this: Arumugam forced this. He threatened me in person. And his men beat me. I stand by every word of my statement."
> [Lex System Update: Witness Credibility – High]
Opponent Defense: Weakening
Court Confidence: 91%
---
Mano pressed on.
"Let me remind this court: under Section 120B, conspiracy need not be proven by direct contact. It is enough that the accused knew, benefited, and remained silent while crimes were committed under their command."
He turned and looked straight at Arumugam.
"You were silent when the land was stolen. Silent when the records were forged. Silent when Ramasamy was kidnapped. You silence, sir, is your confession."
---
The gallery held its breath.
Judge Vijayalakshmi closed the file slowly. "This court finds sufficient merit to move forward with full criminal framing under the following charges:"
IPC 420 – Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property
IPC 467/468 – Forgery of valuable security, will, or authority
IPC 471 – Using forged documents as genuine
IPC 120B – Criminal conspiracy
IPC 342, 365 – Kidnapping and wrongful confinement
Sections 13(1)(d) & 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
She raised the gavel.
"Charge-sheet shall be prepared. Bail is denied. Accused Arumugam shall be remanded."
GAVEL SLAMS.
---
Explosions of flashbulbs followed outside.
News channels screamed headlines:
"MLA REMANDED: The Advocate Who Dared to Strike Back!"
"Land Mafia Busted in Salem Courtroom!"
---
Later That Night – Rooftop of Mano's Office
Ramasamy stood beside Mano, sipping warm tea.
"I thought the law was too weak to save people like me," he said.
Mano smiled faintly. "The law is only weak when we abandon it. The oath I took… wasn't for courts. It was for people."
> [Lex System Notification: Volume 1 Completed – Verdict: ACTIVE]
New Status Unlocked: People's Advocate
Next Objective: Clean up the rest of the network
Volume 2: Judgement Echoes – Begins Soon
Mano turned to the skyline.
One battle won.
A war still ahead.