Mr. Jain Character Analysis in In Custody

Mr. Jain is the manipulative electronics store owner who sells Deven the defective secondhand Japanese tape recorder, sends his nephew Chiku to operate it, and then sends his other nephew, Pintu, to try and salvage the tapes. Both of these nephews are incompetent, but demand money from Deven anyways, and Mr. Jain blames Deven for the interview process’s failure. Murad initially brings Deven to Mr. Jain’s store, and the novel heavily suggests that they worked together to scam Deven out of the research budget that his college gave him.

Mr. Jain Character Timeline in In Custody

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Jain appears in In Custody. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...closely, convinced that he will try to make a “shady deal” with the shopkeeper, Mr. Jain. After all, Murad told Deven that the university’s grant will only cover the worst possible... (full context)

Memory and the Passage of Time Theme Icon

Indian Identity and Pluralism Theme Icon

Deven angrily tries to leave, but before he can, Jain’s nephew Chiku comes in with an old Japanese recorder in a box. Deven complains that... (full context)

Deven asks Murad to listen to the tapes with him in Jain’s shop, as he must return to Mirpore to grade exam papers as soon as possible.... (full context)

...no idea how he can deliver the tapes he promised to his college. Murad blames Jain and Chiku for the poor recordings, but Jain says that it’s Deven’s fault for failing... (full context)

Deven starts screaming at Jain, who promises that he can salvage the tapes through editing. Deven complains that nobody in... (full context)

...(but offers to try persuading them). Deven complains that everyone cheated him, from Murad and Jain to Nur and his wives, but Siddiqui says that Deven shouldn’t have let them. Deven... (full context)