To those who watch television regularly Anoop Soni's face is synonymous with “Crime Patrol” just as Shivaji Satam is identified with “CID”, Anoop Soni is the face of “Crime Patrol”. The show is more than 650 episodes old and understandably Anoop, despite doing a super hit serial like “Ballika Vadhu” is identified with it. “Crime Patrol” which was a thrice-a-week show will now be aired throughout the week. He also happens to be actors Raj and Nadira Babbar's son-in-law. He was game for a few questions around “Crime Patrol”. Excerpts:
Crime Patrol is now a seven days a week saga. What prompted the increase in the number of episodes every week?
We have a good viewership and the audience believe that it is an authentic show and in fact this is the only crime-based show to be aired on an entertainment channel. The audience will be told stories based on our Tag line, ‘Sabak Ek Ko Aur Seekh Sab Ko’. The audience believe in our stories.
On what basis do you select a particular crime incident to be highlighted and what has been the influence of the show on the affected?
This is the job of our research teams. They select the incidents to be showed. Once they get an important incident they start collecting information, study the cases thoroughly, go to the depth of it and then we show them but the cases shown are the ones which have already been investigated by the police as we are not someone to judge them. At times even I suggest them to air incidents which are in my knowledge. After a particular incident is aired on our channel many of them have been put on fast track. If you remember there was an incident where a girl was attacked when acid was thrown on her face. She needed financial help, so we requested our viewers to help her, flashed her contact details on the screen and in a very short period she received about Rs.40 lakh.
On the basis of your research team findings, which State in the country is the most prone to crime?
Here I must say that crime is a mentality which does not require a particular place and through our show we are trying to spread awareness and change the mentality. We have criminals who are rich and poor, they may be living in any part of the country. As Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are very big states and are hugely populated so obviously more incidents take place there.
As you highlight real life crime, is Crime Patrol likely to highlight the Dadri murder and the Ballabhgarh Dalit children's death?
This is the job of the research teams. My job is to narrate the incidents but I am sure they must be working on these cases. Once these cases are investigated by the police we will definitely show but it may take some time.
Considering you have done 650 episodes, how has Crime Patrol affected you?
As a person I am experiencing a lot of positive changes in myself. I am trying to grab all the good things out of it and the most important thing is that there are no negative changes. I have not turned into a criminal.
