Status: Untraced - E9: Father Is One

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0:55But don't wait, these year-end savings won't last. Shop the entire Toyota lineup and find a great deal today on buyatoyota.com. Toyota, let's go places. Welcome to Radio Rental. The scariest stories you've ever heard in your life. All told by real people. And off we go. This wasn't a human being that I saw. There's something here in this house. Something out of this world. There was a woman moving through the hall. I stepped back and I was completely alone. Radio Rental is available now. Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Up in Vanis presents Status Untraced.

1:42Episode 9 starts now. You're listening to Status Untraced, a production of Tenderfoot TV in association with Odyssey. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast. This podcast also contains subject matter which may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.

2:10We used to travel together. We used to eat together. Everything which we do in normal life, we used to do together. What happened to him, we don't know. Daruv Agarwal was last seen heading to Kierganga on November 9th, 2021, 11 days before our arrival in India. Originally, his family wasn't interested in speaking with us. But his older brother Abhishek had a change of mind. Did he tell you what his reason was for going up to do the trek? There is no reason. just travel to Kheeranga for two days. Feeling a lack of response, Abhishek and his uncles launched their own investigation in the Parvati.

2:59The police and rescue teams, they are keeping an eye on us. Many things happened with us, which was very strange. There is something fishy on the track of Kheeranga or in the Parvati Valley. Something people are afraid of. What do you think that is? I am definitely sure. My brother was kidnapped and murdered, but I can't prove it. There's more Abhishek wishes he could say, but he's wary. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Parvati, and speaking ill of it, could put a target on his back. There is, however, one person for whom he openly expresses distaste. Korkhan. Abhishek's family hired the search and rescuer to look for Daru, and have since dropped all ties to the man.

3:56He's the right hand of the drug mafia. He knows everything, every area, every gap, everywhere in the Parvati Valley. But frankly, Singh, not a good person.

4:22Sometimes I get the feeling I'm lost Yes, hiding, man, it's never enough Now I find that every mirror of ghosts Only once I saw the killer Once I saw the killer of clothes I'm Liam Luxon, and this is Status Untraced. Episode 9, Father is One.

5:05So if everybody quiet to... Just ask your talk. Everybody please. Decked out in military boots and a full camo jumpsuit, Korkhan commands an imposing presence. He controls the room, the one filled with six other guys I wasn't expecting to be here. Sorry for that. I'm saying to you, everybody will silence because sir have to come from America to here. We don't know each other. But they came here, and they want to know about Justin. A lot has been said about the man before me. I'm here to find out if the murderous accusations against him hold any validity. But first, I just want to know some basics.

5:53Who is Korkhan, really? How did you get into search and rescue? When I was 13 years old, our family condition was not so good. So we went to Milana, so we went to there and to the plantation. Born to a low-class family in the Parvati Valley, Korkhan explains that he began working as a porter in Milana, the ancient village known for producing the world's best hashish and to be associated with mafias. Through various gigs, he eventually launched his business in the late 90s, which, as he boastfully claims, was the first search and rescue service of its kind.

6:48Sure, yeah. Father is one. If they stay with father, good. If they go here and there from father, so it's up to them.

7:01Kaur Khan essentially just claimed there's a search and rescue hierarchy, and he's at the top. Father is one. It's an odd thing to say, and leaves me wondering if it's his pride talking or a glimpse into something more threatening. What's really in this man's control? In trying to get to the bottom of it, I dig into his process.

7:48you will see. If somebody gets missing, we can search for one to three days maximum, I think. But still the family, they force us to know, look more, look more. So we can look one week, but more than one week, even family say, but we cannot do because we know that we don't find. I'll repeat his words because it's alarming. We can search for one to three days maximum, I think. Still the family, they force us to know, look more, look more. So we can look one week, but more than one week? Even families stay, but we cannot do. Because we know that we don't find. How many families, clinging to hope, have been met with this bleak pragmatism?

8:37I ask if this has been his approach with Daruva Agarwal, the most recent case for which he offered his services.

9:12not giving me the right information, how can I find him? Korkhan claims he initiated search efforts, but that his work went unpaid. If they really love their brother Dhruvagarbhal, why they don't pay the money? If they can't pay, tell us. They can't pay. I asked Abhishek if that was true. Did he charge you for searching for him? He did not give any bill. Whatever he took from us, he took in cash. So we gave him what he demanded. I bring this up to Korkhan, and he corrects himself, saying he did receive 500 rupees, which is around 6 US dollars.

10:00So what do you think happened to him? As far as specifics go, what do you think happened to Durif? Was he robbed? For that I tell you, look, I don't know. I can't say anything, sorry. For me, he's a crazy person. Okay.

10:23Labeling a missing soul as crazy is pretty cold. I don't know if Korkans this open with his clients, But if so, it's no wonder Daruvi's family, juggling exhaustion and misery, accused him of trading hope for profit. They claimed he billed for searches that appeared nothing more than smoke and mirrors. And I've also heard this from another family who accused him of the same stunt, Bruno Mouchelix. So this is what Pieter told me. He told me that he thought that you were going around places and just sending him photos and you weren't searching. What's the response to that? If you don't mind if I say that.

11:07Yeah, please. You are first time here, yeah? Yeah. If you come here, you must know where to go, where to stay, to whom you trust and whom you're talking. If someone is calling you this and that, if you know personally you can say something. You don't know personally. But it's my life. My life, I make my rules. I don't fucking care about the people. They think **** is a good person, no good person, this, that, why? It's my life. I'm enjoying my life. That's the most important, no? It's not their problem because they are just jealous. and the shortcut thing I told you, father is one. I guess I hear what you're saying, but from what I'm hearing from Bieter, he thinks that you are just charging him, but not doing anything.

11:59I'd like to understand why some people think that.

12:12So essentially your response to, you weren't doing anything was that you were, but then they contacted other people and you weren't able to complete your job. No, no, that's what I'm saying. I don't know if I just gave Corcan an out, but honestly, I don't think it matters. It's still suspiciously convenient for him to claim incapacity to fulfill his contracts when all he's dedicating is a mere three days of effort at best. And if that's his modus operandi, it doesn't sound like he's fully transparent about it. I mentioned this three-day bit to Piotr Mouchalik and his friend Tomas, and asked when they hired Korkan if it was ever explained to them.

12:58Did he give you any sort of expectations? And specifically, did he say he was only going to look for three days when you first hired him? No, definitely no. Korkhan could be telling me the truth, or this could all be a politician's act. So as he responds, I'm trying to read between the lines. I'm assessing what makes him boastful, what irritates him, and what his reactions reveal. I'm trying to gather as much of a baseline of who Korkhan is, because I need some idea of how he'll react when I ask if his team is murdering people.

13:55We'll see you next time.

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15:14— Yeah. — Because the police and the administration are helping to me. I'm here. I'm not a government-application. I'm a private worker. But I know that how to investigate. — I watch Kor Khan as he pours himself a scotch. It's not his first, and it's becoming harder to understand him. — Okay. Justin's story, you want to know, you want some deep clue. Yeah, absolutely. How to talk to people, because I'm a local person, I'm not going to make a talk. I'm torn between ending the conversation or pressing on. The man before me, confidently wearing his mafiosa-like personality, still has much to answer for.

15:58But questioning him in the state doesn't feel right. If I'm going to talk to someone, I'm going to talk friendly and the pattern and pen. Reluctantly, I choose to step away. And later, when he's sober, I call him, launching straight into the questions that demand answers.

16:27First and foremost, do you have technical training in mountain rescue? Yes, sir. I do trekking and I tend to guide for the mountains. Has there been a time when somebody else performed the physical rescue and you took credit for it? I cannot say this. Okay. You've never done that. But may I tell you that, okay, if myself is there on the mission, I'm not saying that, okay, every mission I'm there. So I don't take any credit. If somebody say, I take the credit, it's not like that. They will be jealous or whatever, I don't know. They want to say that I take the credit. Where I take the credit? You know, this is one teamwork.

17:14I told you, sir, always, the father is always in the problem because if they have more children, he's in the problem. So I'm the main father. Father is one, that's why this trouble is coming. Giving Korkhan the benefit of the doubt, I posed if these rumors could stem from his old prodigies, people who'd benefit to smear him. No, sir, no, sir. Nobody is doing my business. I'm not saying that. But this rescue is honest working. And we need to trust and believe each other. Out of all these people that you've trained, all of these students, have you ever had an issue with a student? No, some of these boys, they work just one or two days with me.

17:56So I don't even give them certificates. What happened on those times? they just didn't follow your rules, or what was it?

18:09When Korkan is referring to the administration, that's the local government body who sometimes assigns cases to rescue teams.

18:21Sorry, who are these boys that you're talking about?

18:31Facebook, sometimes some boys blaming that administration, not giving bills, not getting money and this and that. Why are they blaming to the administration? If they see their good work, they will give them everything. Why they go behind me? They go ahead. Tell them, don't go back. Go ahead. Go in your work. Focus on your work. Don't focus on Well, less about them because to be honest, I feel like you've answered that now. More questions directed more directly to you and your team. Has there ever been an instance when you found a body and you haven't reported it?

19:04No, no possible. Because all British police is with me. All British army is with me, sir. I'm saying to you, I'm not alone. You tell them, you're not working alone. Why you blame me? Blame to the administration. Blame to the... I hope, sir. Why to blame to me? With every question I ask, it just sounds like Korkhan is flailing. Truly, I appreciate that he's talking with me, and that it actually sounds like he's being open. But I'm a little confused by his words. Because I would understand if it's his intent to actually help people. I would understand if he's made mistakes and takes accountability for them.

19:45And I would get it if he feels like he's been wronged and painted as a villain for his failures. But when I explain to Korkan that people are saying he's a con man, that he doesn't actually conduct professional searches, and that some people have gone as far as saying his team hides bodies, dragging out searches for a bigger pay, what does he do? He points blame at the innocent.

20:20I know where is the body and I go and get it. Okay, they are the people, they are coming to me, saying to me that how much money you want. This is not a money story. I don't understand these families. They are crazy people. I tell you, you better to discuss about this kind of thing with the FBI station. Korkhan's stance that these accusations stem from disgruntled families, there is some truth to that. But the way he chooses to address it feels heartless. This is search and rescue. Your clients are families of missing persons. It's obvious that in order to do this job responsibly, it requires patience and compassion.

21:03And I think he knows that. But when I ask him to further explain his brazen statements, he gets annoyed.

21:39Sir, sir. All right, listen, I have one last rumor that I need to ask you about. No problem. So someone told me that they believe that you or people on your team are making tourists disappear to create more business. What do you have to say about that? I don't know if it's possible. Just send me the name of these guys, whoever, or tell them to call to me and they even record the calling and send to you what is the problem, what they want from me. I tell you, if someone asks for help, I'm the person. I'm not looking for dead body, and this is not my job to look for dead body. My work is to save lives.

22:23Sir, I don't care others. I know myself. That's enough.

22:32Korkhan ends the conversation that day, but will continue to have talks. You're saying you can look for one to three days maximum, specifically going back to Daru then, he went missing like on the 9th and the family approached you on the 12th. You know, that's a three-day difference already. Did you tell them that because of your experience that you no longer felt he was alive? I can't say anything for that. Most important thing, they go alone, which is not good. Anything can happen to a lone person. Yeah. Have you ever told like a family that you believe it's impossible to find someone? It is difficult to find, but still the family, they want that I do something.

23:18If I give up or in the beginning I say, no, I cannot do this, then their energy goes down. If I say no. Yeah. It's not easy because it's a threat. I do actually think he means well. He's proud of his career. And what I come to believe is that he's not a murderer. He's a poor communicator. The thing I'm kind of coming back to is that initial thing that you told me. So you do look longer than three days sometimes? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I do. But you don't really think that you're probably going to find anything after three days? It's difficult, but possible to find any belongings or something. But after that, the families also, they are not satisfied.

24:00They say, no, they are here, they are alive. Yeah. So it's very difficult. I don't have evidence that he's guilty of fraud. But his whole ideology of father is one, and to imply that other teams' successes are also his success, I think it's just a sign of narcissism. So essentially, you kind of see yourself as like a father figure, like the leader. Of course, that's what I'm saying. If I trust someone, someone trusts me, then we can work together. What I am certain of, based on his own words, is that he's a man of self-interest. Business first, people second. When I asked you about the rumors about you, you thought it could be the families that were saying these malicious things.

24:48And then you said that you thought that they were crazy. I just wanted to be clear. Do you think that they're crazy? No, I'm not saying they are crazy. But you know, sir, it's too much stress, this kind of work. And you know, sir, when somebody's family member missing, how many things they have in their mind, how many questions they want to ask. They have to think in every angle. They are free to think that. So I follow them. But I cannot say them it's difficult to find now. They can easily understand that. If we don't find one day, two days, three days, one week, two weeks, what we look for. I get it.