The episode, titled “The Ledger of Lies,” focuses on the exposure of the village’s deep-rooted corruption and Jagriti’s tactical brilliance.
The Night School Raid
The episode begins under the banyan tree where Jagriti is teaching the village children by the light of oil lamps. Thakur’s henchmen arrive to disrupt the class, claiming that “unauthorized gatherings” are a threat to public order. However, Jagriti is prepared. She has invited the local press and a human rights activist she met through the traveling lawyer. The henchmen are forced to retreat when they see the cameras, but they vow to strike back when the “outsiders” leave.
Kalpana’s Dangerous Evidence
Kalpana manages to smuggle the original “Welfare Ledger” out of Thakur’s study. This book contains the thumbprints of villagers who allegedly received government funds, but many of the names belong to people who have been dead for years. While escaping, Kalpana is cornered by Durjan. In a surprising twist, Durjan doesn’t hand her over to Thakur; instead, he tells her to run, revealing that he too has a secret grudge against Thakur’s family.
The “Stolen” Grain Crisis
To frame the Chitta community, Thakur’s men hide bags of government-subsidized grain in Suryakant’s hut. The police arrive for a “random search” and “find” the evidence. Just as they are about to arrest Suryakant and label the entire community as thieves, Jagriti produces a CCTV recording from a hidden camera she had placed on a nearby tree (bought with her scholarship savings). The footage clearly shows Thakur’s men planting the grain in the middle of the night.
The District Magistrate’s Arrival
The climax occurs when the District Magistrate (DM) arrives at the village for an unannounced inspection. Jagriti walks up to the DM’s car and hands over a petition signed by every student in her night school. She doesn’t ask for food or money; she asks for the legal recognition of their community’s birth certificates, which Thakur has been withholding to prevent them from voting. The DM is impressed by her clarity and orders an immediate inquiry.
Major Highlights
- Media Shield: Jagriti uses the presence of the press to protect her students from Thakur’s violence.
- The Secret Ally: Durjan shows a rare moment of humanity by helping Kalpana escape with the ledger.
- The Frame-Up Fails: Jagriti’s foresight with the hidden camera saves Suryakant from a wrongful arrest.
- The Political Move: Jagriti bypasses the local police and appeals directly to the DM for the community’s right to vote.
Precap for Tomorrow:
Thakur, feeling the heat of the DM’s inquiry, decides to set fire to the land records office to destroy the evidence of the stolen tribal land. Jagriti hears of the plan and rushes to the office, but she gets trapped inside as the building is locked from the outside. Meanwhile, Kalpana realizes the “Ledger” she took is missing its most important page—the one with Thakur’s father’s signature.
