 The trio receive a warm welcome from the Prime Minister of Pankot Palace , Chattar Lal . The visitors are allowed to stay the night as guests , during which they attend a lavish but grotesque banquet given by the young Maharajah , <unk> Singh . Chattar Lal rebuffs Indy 's questions about the villagers ' claims and his theory that the ancient Thuggee cult is responsible for their troubles . Later that night , Indy is attacked by an assassin , leading Indy , Willie , and Shorty to believe that something is amiss . They discover a series of tunnels hidden behind a statue in Willie 's room and set out to explore them , overcoming a number of booby @-@ traps along the way . 
