The next morning dawned unusually still, as if the wind itself was waiting for war to begin.

At exactly 7:00 AM, a fleet of white SUVs with bold red stripes pulled up to the glass-fronted headquarters of Chaddha Industries.

Income Tax Department.

Special Investigation Wing.

Enforcement Directorate.

Officers stormed the building, led by a senior official holding a sealed warrant.

"This is an official income tax raid," the officer barked. "Step aside. All financial servers and documents are now under government control."

Inside, panic erupted.

Accountants ran in circles.

Legal heads fumbled through files.

Senior executives tried to make calls — but network jammers blocked every signal.

From the 18th floor, Param's CFO watched in horror as government officials swept through the accounts department like a tsunami.

And then, across every digital screen in the office, a message flashed — a press release made public just seconds ago:

"Investigation Launched into Chaddha Group for Suspected Tax Evasion, Illegal Asset Transfers, and Money Laundering."

— Signed: Enforcement Directorate | Tax Intelligence Bureau | Central Vigilance Commission

⸻

Meanwhile, at the Chaddha family home, Viom stood at the balcony with a cup of black coffee, eyes on his phone.

He watched the news tickers ignite:

"Param Chaddha's empire under fire!"

"Anonymous whistleblower provides evidence of ₹1200 Cr unaccounted funds."

"Luxury cars, properties, overseas bank accounts frozen."

Beside him, Piya read the headlines slowly.

"You did this?" she asked.

Viom didn't look away from the screen.

"No," he said simply. "He did this to himself. I just gave the truth a microphone."

⸻

At the jail, Param sat in stunned silence as the news played on a small mounted TV.

His hands clenched.

His businesses — locked.

His assets — frozen.

His reputation — burned alive.

But what made his blood boil wasn't just the collapse of his empire.

It was the signature at the bottom of the whistleblower file now trending online.

"Filed By: Dr. Viom Chaddha"

Param screamed, hurling the remote against the wall.

"VIOM! YOU THINK THIS IS OVER?!"

But in truth... it had only just begun.

By noon, the conference room inside the Central Income Tax Intelligence Wing was flooded with whiteboards, laptops, and buzzing phones. Officers shuffled between desks, typing furiously as files poured in from state departments and foreign banks.

In the center of the chaos sat Chief Investigator Satyendra Rao, head of the task force assigned to Param Singh Chaddha.

He pulled up a projection on the screen:

A vast digital spiderweb.

At its center: Param Chaddha.

From it, over 1,042 company names sprawled outward like infected veins.

"This isn't a business," Rao muttered. "It's a shadow empire."

A young analyst added, "Most of these companies are registered under fake directors — drivers, security guards, even dead people."

Another officer chimed in, pointing to the screen.

"The money trails bounce between shell companies and disappear into offshore accounts in Mauritius, Dubai, and Singapore. Estimated illegal transactions: ₹4800 crore."

Rao's eyes narrowed as he circled three names on a file.

"These three businesses have overlapping directors with sitting politicians. Start pulling their phone records.

If Param falls... others are falling with him."

⸻

That evening, Viom was called in to meet the task force.

He walked in with confidence, Piya by his side.

Rao stood up and shook his hand. "You weren't wrong. What you gave us... just cracked open one of the largest economic crime rings in North India."

He turned the screen toward them.

Photos, documents, transaction ledgers.

"Param has ties to eight high-profile business tycoons — all under preliminary probe.

But here's the shocker... he also transferred large 'consultation fees' to three serving MPs and a retired cabinet minister.

Political shielding. That's how he stayed untouchable."

Viom's jaw clenched. "So he bought silence?"

Rao nodded. "And favors. But not anymore. He's exposed now. And with your testimony, we can push this into a full federal-level takedown."

Piya stepped forward, quiet but clear:

"Burn it all.

Every paper. Every lie.

He ended my parents to build this kingdom of filth.

Let it all turn to ash."

Rao looked at her for a long moment.

"With your help, ma'am... it will."

9:47 PM | Breaking Broadcast

The news ticker suddenly paused.

And then... updated with five devastating words:

"PM's Name Appears in Chaddha Files"

The studio anchor froze mid-sentence.

A producer whispered frantically in his earpiece, but the damage was done. The screen behind him showed a confidential document, leaked by anonymous whistleblowers from the Enforcement Directorate, clearly listing "PM Arvind Rathore" under a section titled:

"Undisclosed Beneficiaries of Political Funding via Chaddha Conglomerate (2010–2021)"

⸻

Within moments, social media exploded.

#PMChaddhaScam

#ResignRathore

#PoliticalUnderworld

#BurnTheEmpire

Outside the Parliament gates, crowds began to gather, shouting slogans.

Inside the PMO (Prime Minister's Office), officers scrambled. Phones rang without pause. One aide shouted:

"He can't go on camera! This is political suicide!"

But it was too late.

Within 10 minutes, a full press release from ED confirmed the authenticity of the document. Signed. Sealed. No room to deny.

The Prime Minister of India had received indirect political funding and protection money through companies controlled by Param Singh Chaddha.

⸻

By dawn:

    •    Two Cabinet Ministers resigned.

    •    Three top industrialists fled the country.

    •    The Supreme Court demanded a special investigation team (SIT) be formed immediately.

    •    The opposition called for impeachment.

    •    And in every home, one question echoed:

"How deep does the rot go?"

⸻

At the Chaddha Villa

Piya stood silently, watching the riot footage from Parliament.

"He bought the throne," she whispered. "And Param was his banker."

Viom turned off the screen. "This isn't a scandal anymore, Piya. This is war. And now they won't just attack us... they'll erase us."

She looked at him calmly. "Then let them try."

⸻

Elsewhere — In the Shadows

In a hidden farmhouse on the city outskirts, a plan was already in motion.

Inside a smoke-filled room, a hitman opened a suitcase, checked his weapon, and asked coldly:

"Which one first — the doctor or the girl?"