It is really gratifying that in recent times we have witnessed some judicial pronouncements that eloquently uphold the dictum that no one is above law and that no human life is worthless or inferior. Be it a politician or a celebrity or an industrialist, no mortal should be given a place above the law, irrespective of political power or connections, or muscle power or financial power or religion or social standing or education or vocation or any other factor.
At the same time, the inordinate delays in deciding some sensational cases and the hushing up of many cases involving murder, financial crimes and corruption perpetrated by some influential persons are a matter of serious concern for all who still believe that democracy has a future in our country.
The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Bollywood star Salman Khan after he was involved in a hit and run case 13 years ago. The actor who has an investment of about ₹2,000 crore riding on him in the form of films and endorsements has been charged for culpable homicide. Umpteen celebrities and movie stars have been quick to jump to his defence but that was clearly on the cards and not much should be read in the statements made by them. With the actor also facing trial in a Rajasthan court for hunting and killing a black buck and three chinkaras during a film shoot in 1998 it is obvious that Salman Khan is on a sticky wicket. The superstar would do well to take the court’s verdict in his stride and move on if he is to redeem his image in the public eye.
NJ Ravi Chander
Bengaluru
An acquaintance has been in prison for a wrong done by his peers (who are absconding) — he is waiting for a trial hearing before the judge to get a bail. It’s been one year, and he still hasn’t got a date. It is shocking how someone like Salman Khan gets bail in 3 hours, and Sanjay Dutt and Jayalalithaa in days. I request the CJI to open a forum to accept suggestions and questions from the common man.
Anil Kumar
New Delhi
Well argued
Kudos to Nandini Nair for ‘Being a pavement dweller’ (May 7). It is high time the-powers-that be decided that no one, no matter how moneyed and with however much political clout, got away from the long hand of justice. After 68 years since Independence, if any Indian has to sleep on the footpath, it is a disgusting commentary on corrupt politicians, film actors and bureaucrats of this vast country, and on the way they have siphoned the wealth of this country. It is established beyond doubt that no Indian can go up the ladder of success through honest work.
The Bollyword discourse that Salman Khan is paying a price for his celebrity status like Sanjay Dutt did for his involvement in the 1993 serial bombings case, and that both had done a lot of “humanitarian work”, will not wash. You don’t commit a heinous crime, run away from the spot, dodge the law for 13 long years, and yet plead not guilty at the end. It is as much a commentary on our legal system, essentially based on British Law, by which a person is innocent until proved guilty, unlike French law where everyone is assumed to be guilty until innocence is proved.
KP Prabhakan Nair
Irresponsible CEO
This refers to your edit, ‘The new role models’(May 7). The way the young CEO put in his papers raises a lot of questions about the role of the board in the growth path of Housing.com. This is a clear case where the money has come in without a vision for the business. Money alone cannot take a business to great heights.
All our business groups had a lot of money and they were not agile enough to see the changes happening in the retail space. Now everyone wants a piece of the pie in the online retail space. This clearly shows that without vision and without adopting changes, one cannot grow a business. It is disturbing that the CEO had to go public with his scathing remarks about his colleagues but he is not the only one to be blamed in this case.
CR Arun
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