Birbal Investigates A Theft Case

The Emperor Akbar had many courtiers to guide him in his Administrative work. He had made a special arrangement for their lodging in the fort. A separate colony was made for them Much like the hostel of MLAs or the MPs or the Senators of these days, the colony was well guarded and secure from all sides. Yet despite all the arrangements, some costly items got stolen from the residence of one of the courtiers. This was a very serious matter. If the courtiers themselves were not secure enough, how could they provide protection and justice to the general masses. They discussed amonst themselves and finally it was decided to bring the matter to the notice of the emperor.

The emperor listened to them patiently and his initial enquiry revealed that no outsider could enter the colony unnoticed. The thief was from amongst them only. A courtier who was a bit jealous of Birbal, suggested that Birbal may be asked to find the thief. The emperor ordered Birbal to investigate and find out the thief soon. Birbal bowed his head in obedience.

It was not an easy task. One way to solve the problem was to search the residences of all the courtiers for the stolen items. But doing so, he would have earned the wrath of them all, good for nothing. He was deeply thinking how to solve the problem and to find the thief. While he was going in the market, he saw a potter going leisurely with his donkey. Suddenly an idea struck to his mind. He asked the potter to loan him his donkey for a day. The potter was reluctant. But when Birbal offered a handsome sum for the same, he willingly agreed and gave the donkey to him. Birbal brought the donkey to the colony, tied it in a room and called all the courtiers to help him in finding the real culprit.

Firstly he told them all that the donkey was a miraculous one and that he was sure that he would be able to find the thief with the help of the donkey soon. He requested all of them to enter in the room one by one and touch the tail of the donkey and say that they have not stolen the articles. The donkey will detect whether the person is telling a lie or speaking the truth. While touching the tail, the sentence should be uttered loudly so that everyone could hear it. If the tail is not touched, the donkey will not be able to decide anything.

The courtiers entered the room one by one, they touched the tail of the donkey and said that ‘I have not stolen the articles’. After everyone had done so, Birbal asked them to sit on the chairs before him. Addressing them all, he asked them, ‘Those who have touched the tail and uttered ‘I have not stolen the article’, may raise their hands. Birbal noticed that everyone raised his hand. The emperor asked, ‘Birbal ! I wonder how your donkey will find the thief. Birbal replied, ‘Your majesty, the thief has already been found.’ Saying this he approached one of the courtiers and said, ‘Here is the thief.’ Let us search his residence. On searching his residence, they recovered the stolen articles.

The emperor was much impressed by Birbal and desired to know, how Birbal caught the actual culprit. Birbal then explained, ‘Your majesty, I had applied some paint on the tail of the donkey. And I noticed that the hand of everyone except the culprit had the colour on it. Actually, the culprit did not touch the tail at all and so he was caught.