Non-stop coverage over the past 48 hours by the national media of the Salman Khan 2002 hit-and-run-case has bordered on the ridiculous. News channels appear to be actively engaged in glorifying a criminal. Is the nation interested in knowing, 24X7, about a drunken celebrity actor’s antics which resulted in a tragedy? If Mr. Khan is the hero that he projects himself to be in his movies, he should demonstrate the courage to admit his crime and serve his jail term quietly.
Ramdas Naik,
Chennai
The criminal justice system in India is full of paradoxes. From the time this case developed from the night of the incident, to the transformation of a ‘bad boy’ Bollywood star into a man with a charitable bent of mind, to the meandering court case, and then the conviction and the bail even before the ink on the judgment had dried — all over 13 years — the script has been very much like one of a Bollywood film; absurd from beginning to the end and where the ‘hero’ triumphs even in defeat. It has only been a Greek tragedy for the victims and their families. In the end, when celebrities and powerful people are involved, is the justice system different (“Politicians’ visit triggers row”, May 8)?
N.K. Raveendran,
Bengaluru
Without commenting on the judgment for its fairness in proving that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, what is striking is the film fraternity and fans out in full support of a gross misdemeanour, which is proof that hero-worship in our country surpasses all other emotions. So blind has been the adoration for the star that Bollywood appears to have no qualms in blaming the victims for sleeping on the pavement. Is life so cheap? It is time that the public realises that screen emotions and stunts may not necessarily be indicative of their favourite star’s real-life persona.
Pachu Menon,
Margao, Goa
The course of the much publicised case certainly gives rise to the question on whether there is equality before the law. Our jails continue to be overcrowded with a number of poor under-trials, a vast majority of them accused/charged with petty offences but unfortunately still in custody pending their trial as they can’t arrange for the money for bail bonds. The legal services provided to them are also belated and inadequate. It is only political bigwigs and other celebrities who can afford to engage the services of top legal eagles who thus become the only real beneficiaries who take advantage of the benevolent provisions available in our penal laws.
Hemant Kumar,
Ambala, Haryana
After a rap on the knuckles from Nepal — ‘#IndianMediaGoBack’ — the media appears to be at it again. It is demoralising to see the Indian media projecting the superstar as some sort of martyr for a cause and continuously airing the views of his “fans”. How can they forget that he is guilty of culpable homicide?
Shashwat Srivastava,
Ranchi, Jharkhand
