What was Hemadpant's role in Bandra, and why did he refuse to visit the Siddha named Pir Maulana, as detailed in Chapter 21?

As recounted in Chapter 21, Hemadpant was the Magistrate of Bandra. During his time there, a famous Siddha named Pir Maulana resided in the city, attracting followers from Hindu, Parsi, and other faiths. A servant named Inus persistently urged Hemadpant to go for the saint's vision. However, Hemadpant refused, questioning why he should go just because thousands of others did. He worried about being pressured by others and losing his own prestige. As he reflects in Chapter 21, he attributes this reluctance to 'ill-luck' standing in his way, which caused him to think such thoughts and ultimately miss the opportunity before he was transferred.