The question comes from the story “In the Kingdom of Fools” (NCERT Class 9, Moments).

Quick Scoop

According to the king, the real culprit is the rich merchant (the owner of the house whose weak wall fell on the thief and killed him).

He escapes punishment because he is too thin to be properly executed on the stake; the king wants someone who fits the stake, so they go looking for a fat person instead, and the merchant is spared.

Mini Breakdown

  • The thief dies when the old wall of the merchant’s house collapses on him.
  • After a chain of silly accusations, the king finally decides that the merchant is the real culprit because he inherited both his father’s wealth and his father’s “sins.”
  • However, when the time comes to execute him on the stake, the ministers find that he is very slim and does not fit the heavy stake meant for execution.
  • The king absurdly decides they must find a fat man who fits the stake instead of changing the stake or the punishment, so the merchant is allowed to go free.

In Short (for exam-type answers)

  • Real culprit according to the king:
    The rich merchant, owner of the house whose weak wall fell on the thief.
  • Why he escapes punishment:
    He is too thin to fit the stake, so the king looks for a fatter person to execute and the merchant is spared.

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