CBI Chief Joginder Singh.

NEW DELHI, May 14:He does many battles inspired by good thoughts and family support against the evil forces. Whenever he is upset because of the machinations of the villains, he reads the writing of good authors and gets inspired to better investigate the case.

The prose may not be inspiring, but read on. After putting together charge-sheet after charge-sheet, India's top investigating officer is writing his first crime novel. The hero in Central Bureau of Investigation director Joginder Singh's forthcoming novel is, no prize for guessing, a cop who ``has cracked several cases''. Hang on a moment, any similarity is sheer coincidence, this is ``pure work of fiction''.

Singh is close to finishing the book 75 per cent of the manuscript is already with the publishers, Har Anand, a Delhi-based firm. Har Anand has published Singh's earlier works -- all DIYs (Do It Yourself) including How to get to the top in 50 days.

``We have had a long association with Singh and now we will bring out his first work of fiction,'' says Narendra Kumar who owns Har Anand. Kumar says Singh is the ``star'' among his writers. He says what convinced him to get the CBI director to sign the contract for his first novel was the response Singh received at the Delhi Book Fair. ``He was the star of the show''.

The book is set to hit the stands in the second half of the year and the exact date depends on the time Singh is able to take off from his other preoccupations -- preparing draft charge-sheets and making announcements on investigations

Singh's earlier four self-help books, which he admits, are adapted from diverse sources have proved to be money-spinners. Kumar refuses to give the details, but says, ``the books are doing well''.

In fact, Singh wrote three of them during his current tenure as CBI Director due to the ``widespread'' public demand.

If there's demand, there will be supply: the hero in the novel may have to work hard against the ``evil forces'' forever, but his Creator will be free soon. Singh will retire in October, and most probably don the mantle of a full-time writer. What does that mean? The birth of a paperback prince? India's own Forsythe, Archer, Grisham?

There are many other questions. Like, how close will the cases be to the real cases?

Or will the details of investigations come out as fiction with names of people and places changed?

Wait and see. Anyway, Joginder Singh is not available for comments on his novel.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.