I'm a Master in India

Chapter 231: Incompetents

What's the concept of 300 million rupee? The first phase of the Sur Industrial Park only cost that much.

Damn, Bollywood is still too rich!

A movie music cassette, and the record company was willing to spend a fortune to acquire it.

This was indeed a bit beyond Ron's imagination, no wonder gangs were so keen on investing in Bollywood.

As long as you bet right, the profits are comparable to robbing a bank.

Of course, the movie songs led by Chopra have always been known for their extremely outstanding soundtracks. There's a reason why T-Series offered a high price.

Ron's Solar Entertainment company holds a 21% stake. After deducting the 47 million cost, the music copyright share alone is 50 million rupee.

Damn, if such good things happened twice more, his Sur Electrical Appliances wouldn't even compare.

"Do you know who called you?" Ron wished he could drag out the gang causing trouble behind the scenes and slap them twice. That was his money!

"It seems his name is Ab. Salam." When Chopra first received the call, the other party introduced himself.

"I'll find someone to help check it out." Ron noted down the name.

"Alas, if he just wanted some money, that would be one thing, but the copyright..."

"It's useless," Ron shook his head. "He wants to use you as an example to warn others."

This matter has been causing quite a stir recently. Not only people in the industry, but many gossip newspapers are also discussing it.

That Salam is now in a difficult position and definitely won't let it go easily.

Otherwise, the public would think extortionists only make verbal threats, and most of them have been 'encountered' by the police.

This, of course, won't do. Someone must be killed as a warning!

This way, people will read Ab. Salam's name in the newspapers again, and others who receive his calls in the future will be terrified and comply with everything.

Perhaps other gangs are also watching. If Salam gets what he wants this time, the remaining gangs will follow suit.

"You'd best not go out these few days. If necessary, I can call a police friend of mine. He should send someone to protect you for a while."

"That seems... a bit inappropriate." Chopra hesitated.

He thought being escorted by armed police everywhere would damage his image. It would be better to just stay home and not go out.

"In short, be careful yourself." Ron immediately went to find Ajay.

If anyone knew Dawood's subordinates like the back of his hand, it would definitely be him.

During the bombing incident, Ajay had thoroughly investigated the Dawood Gang.

Indeed, as soon as Ron mentioned the name, Ajay immediately had an impression.

He had someone find the information and introduced the other party's background to Ron in detail.

Ab. Salam, an extortion expert under Dawood. He also had a part in the bombing incident.

However, in recent years, being ordered around by Dawood had long made him dissatisfied.

Yet, because of the case, he had to temporarily keep a low profile.

He had been obsessed with Bollywood for a long time and desperately wanted to participate in film production but couldn't.

So he became self-taught and became an expert in extorting filmmakers by setting up shell entertainment companies.

"So, this guy is doing some things behind Dawood's back?" Ron's eyes lit up.

"Dawood probably knows, but if Salam is willing to share the money, he'll just turn a blind eye." Ajay replied.

"Where does he live now?" Ron got straight to the point.

"Dubai."

"Why are these guys all running abroad one by one?" Ron was a bit depressed.

If he were in Mumbai, he could make the other party 'encounter' something today. Persian Gulf countries would be much more troublesome.

"He's on the wanted list. If he doesn't want to be 'encountered', he can only hide abroad." Ajay sneered.

"Dawood is in Baba Sheep, his top subordinates are in Dubai, and the gang's lower ranks are in Mumbai. How does he control them?"

"More and more people want to start their own gangs. Mumbai will only become more chaotic in the future."

"I'll find him." Ron prepared to get up and leave.

As long as he's in Dubai, he can't escape. It just means Vinod will have to spend a bit more time.

"In a couple of days, there will be an industry symposium about Bollywood extortion. You can go listen."

"Is that thing useful?"

"Better than nothing." Ajay shrugged.

Alright, Mumbai's police have probably also given up.

Two days later, while Ron was making a satellite call to Vinod far away in Dubai, Chopra received another threatening call.

The one speaking on behalf of Salam was a certain Bollywood director. He was only responsible for conveying the message.

The general meaning was that if the contract wasn't signed by the end of the month, the next gun fired at him would definitely not jam.

Hearing the news, Ron couldn't help but sigh. Bollywood was truly infiltrated like a sieve, even fellow directors were gang informants.

It's still the same saying: the authorities don't value Bollywood, so gangs just take advantage of the vacuum.

They directly interfere with the cast, controlling whatever they want.

For example, they recruit unknown, obedient directors and producers, and then call the currently most popular stars, ordering them to cancel their existing filming plans and join movies invested by the gang.

As long as there are famous stars appearing, the movie can easily recoup its costs.

If anyone dares to resist, they are guaranteed to be dealt with by killers.

The lives of young people in Mumbai are worthless. They dare to kill for 200 rupee, and the police can't possibly arrest them all.

As the infiltration deepens, gangs also want to get involved in the overseas copyrights of movies.

They have such channels, after all, many leaders are abroad themselves.

Which of those Bollywood stars can go abroad to promote is also entirely decided by the gangs.

Once abroad, Bollywood people are easier for them to control.

Every year, flights carrying actors and musicians fly all the way from Barcelona to Boston. Their promotions and tours are all manipulated by gangs behind the scenes.

After several years, Bollywood and gangs have formed a strange symbiotic relationship.

Filmmakers draw inspiration from the lives of gang members and make movies, while gangs provide funding for the movies.

Those big bosses are keen on entertainment and also chase stars. They imitate the image of stars on screen to dress themselves.

At the same time, they are proud that they can slander movie stars; they have their own way of establishing authority.

For example, a single phone call can make a big star who fights against a thousand troops bare-handed in a movie kneel down, crying and begging for mercy from a gangster to save their life.

Many big bosses, including ordinary people, consider acting a lowly profession.

In short, the relationship between gang members and Bollywood is complex, both yearning for it and disliking it.

Even Kshatriyas like Chopra dare not refuse their investment, but the gangs' appetite is growing, making it unbearable.

He was preparing to attend the industry meeting organized by the Mumbai government, even though it might not be very useful.

Most of the producers attending the meeting have intricate ties with gangs, and some people's identities are open secrets.

To put it bluntly, many are gang informants. They will report the content of the meeting to their superiors in detail: who came, and what everyone said.

Ron even suspected that the government officials attending the meeting were also closely related to gangs.

Never mind, he's free anyway. He'll go with Chopra and wait for news from Vinod.

On Saturday evening, the symposium was held at the state guesthouse in the Western Ghats. Ron, Mr. and Mrs. Chopra, and Mary went together.

Upon arrival, the guard checking people in let them through directly after seeing Ron.

No one dared to stop them. Ron's face was very effective now.

Too many buffs stacked up, too many to count.

Thanks to him, their seats were all in the front row. Upon arrival, the spacious conference hall was already full of people.

There were producers, a few second-tier stars, Maharashtra Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, high-ranking Mumbai police officials, and journalists from over a dozen radio stations.

More than a symposium, this place was more like a press conference venue.

Funnily enough, the meeting only officially began after the media reporters and photographers had all left the room.

Leaving aside the preceding nonsense, the police actually complained first, saying directors didn't report cases after being extorted.

The producers present were emotionally agitated, stating one after another that after they reported the cases, the local police station did nothing.

Some also stated bluntly that the gangsters who were herders were all traitors. When they were invited into the police station, they received VIP treatment.

The police and gangs are in cahoots. Their reporting cases is completely useless.

Another director complained that he was indeed under police protection, but his bodyguard was shot dead at his doorstep.

The police chief immediately retorted, "The person we are protecting is you, not the person who came to protect you. Aren't you unharmed?"

For Mumbai police, bodyguards are consumables and can't even be considered people.

Chopra also questioned why the government didn't extradite gang leaders hiding overseas but instead publicly released a list of filmmakers who owed taxes because they were under police protection?

He threatened the government that if they continued to do nothing, he would consider moving his businesses to the safer Hyderabad.

The film industry is the economic pillar of Mumbai. Without it, Mumbai would collapse by more than half.

The Home Minister subconsciously wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks, but after seeing Ron sitting next to him, he changed his tune.

"India is a democratic country, I cannot say these things publicly, but I can tell you that I have decided to impose the most severe punishment on the extortionists! Truly, the ultimate punishment, a punishment without mercy."

A politician's words, just listen and forget.

Ron finally understood, Mumbai, from top to bottom, was full of incompetents.

Walking out of the conference hall, not far down the road, there was a garbage dump with 'Police Use Only' written on it.

"Look," Chopra pointed outside the car window. "Even the police are like this, this country is hopeless."

"To solve this matter, we still have to rely on extraordinary means. The police are the last option." Ron chuckled.

"That chief, and the Home Minister, are both half-baked goods. India is full of people like them. We've entrusted the great parliamentary democracy to these people, and that's the source of this country's tragedy."

"Don't worry about these things for now. I'll take care of Salam in about two days." Ron wasn't interested in 'half-baked' people.

"Are you sure? I heard he's hiding in Dubai, and the Mumbai police can't do anything to him."

"The Mumbai police's reach isn't that long, but mine is."

"Brother, you don't have business in Dubai too, do you?" Chopra was surprised.

"My people will find him soon." Ron said in a relaxed tone.

"Oh, the Mumbai police should be ashamed of this!"

Ron shrugged. Actually, if India was full of such half-baked people, it would be quite good.

The more incompetent they are, the more opportunities he has to stir things up.