Deewana didn’t much care for conventions. They were usually far too crowded for his tastes and they rarely involved a subject he was interested in enough for him to set aside the inevitable discomforts. Stamps, for example. He had no interest in stamps at all and considered the pastime of collecting them to be rather eccentric. His nephew, however, had an interest in them and attending this convention cum exhibition was an early birthday present. Thus, while the boy almost ran from table to table, Deewana followed more sedately, watching people rather than looking at the stamps. It was the usual mix of people, he decided, ranging from the curious and interested to the self-important and bored. He himself only became interested when he overheard talk of an auction, so he decided to stop and listen in. “It’s where the convention makes most of its money,” the most prolific speaker was saying. A man by the name of Kumar, as the detective gathered after a short time of listening. “The money made from the entrance fees is peanuts compared to what a good auction can bring in.” “You’d said this auction would be special?” another man piped in. “Why yes,” Mr. Kumar replied with a grin. “There will be a surprise auction at the very end. You will have  to attend to see what we have for you. That’s all I can say.” With that the little gathering broke up and Deewana went on to catch up with his nephew. By the time he’d caught up with the boy the investigator saw it was almost time for the auction, so he decided to let the youngling learn something practical about his

You are the detective in the followingCrime mystery. After going throughthe series of events, you have toDecide who is your prime suspectand why. Be your own SherlockHolmes.

h o b b y .Specifically, howmuch value some people attached to thesestamps. He was just about to enter the auction hallwhen a cry of alarm went up. Feeling his duty calling,Deewana told his nephew to wait and went to see whatthe ruckus was about.“We’ve been robbed!” a distraught man was sayingwhile others helped Mr. Kumar to a chair. The manmust have been struck and was still woozy. “Themade off with at least half the stamps! Somebody mustcall the police immediately!

Deewana was nonplussed. “Surely nobody could be sointerested in stamps to perpetrate a crime to get them?”

he asked.“On the contrary,” replied another man, introducinghimself as Ashish Soni. “Stamps can be quite valuable.Why, that last auction piece of theirs alone is worth asmuch as sixty thousand rupees.”“That much?” the investigator replied, surprised. “I didn’texpect that they would be worth so much. Are you partof the staff, here?”“Oh, no, just an avid fan of the hobby,” Ashish replied witha smile. “I like to go tsuch conventions and auctionswhen I can.”“I see,” Deewana commented musingly. “I think youshould tell this to the police. After they book you onsuspicion of assault and robbery.”Why does Deewana think Ashish will be booked for thecrime?WORTH UNLESS HE’D SEEN IT – LIKELY DURING THE ROBBERY.

 – Asmita Thakore