News of veteran freedom fighter Shoba Popatkar's murder sends alarm bells ringing through the highest ranks of the Bombay police. The killing of a respected citizen is a national scandal and justice must be seen to be done.

An early arrest seems a formality - but Inspector Ghote is convinced that a vital piece of evidence has been overlooked. So, in the holy city of Benares, Ghote stakes his reputation on a cunning solution of his own...