-
-
Aug312007
Salman Khan shuttles between jail and bail
The verdict’s out, and so is he. He doesn’t deserve pity this time around. Salman Khan’s arrogance could do with humility. If he can’t walk on with life after snubbing Vivek Oberoi for a harmless little issue, does he expect the public to forgive him for his crime on a scale as large as this?
Having suggested that, the sympathy these stars evoke is unavoidable and often understandable. It’s not about the educated or uneducated masses who can’t understand what’s ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. It’s simply that these stars are more visible than the victims, and end up getting more publicity. Unfortunately, the law isn’t always well equipped to make the right decision, which doesn’t give the common man a lot of affection for it, so it’s the stars’ words against the others. Besides, there are two sides to every coin: while the likes of Khan and Dutt might use their influence to get out of a tight spot, they also invite extra wrath from the judicial system who love to present ‘brand India’ to the world, the ‘democracy’ where everyone gets equal justice - as Chacko puts it, ‘My India sees all her citizens as the same’.
It’s important to understand the difference between the Khan case and the Dutt one. Dutt was accused of conspiring with the terrorists, and he got away for reasons already known, the final verdict suggesting that he’s not a terrorist, obviously buying his argument that the weapons he possessed was for self-defence. Of course, stacking up AK-47s at home isn’t the ideal Indian common man’s self-defence approach, so he gets arrested - which is fine - in the context of which six years seems a tad too long.
On the other hand, Salman Khan deserves every bit of punishment that he gets when the poaching is proved. Khan has done his bit of community service as well, and there is an obvious reform in place, but the star has been directly involved in nothing short of murder, and that calls for strong judgment.
What ought to be common between the Dutt and Khan case, however, is to bring focus on remedial action. Personally, I care little if either of them get out on bail or get convicted in jail - it neither brings back the dead nor does anything constructively. What I’d like to see as a sentence is these guys punished to help the community, maybe in a remote location within India, and a ban from their cinematic livelihood for a few years.
When you deny an artist from performing, it hurts him and hurts him bad. Considering that this punishment comes second only to snatching his freedom to walk free, it’s a worthwhile verdict when coupled with community service. Much as everyone want India’s citizens to be treated equally, these guys are special - they’re stars, they grab attention, they create an impact, and that - if anything - should be acknowledged and exploited.
The views expressed in this post are those of the writer and are not necessarily endorsed by Mutiny.in
Subscribe
Submit Link
Tara
001
3:42 pm
Welcom to the world of envy.
VS
002
3:53 pm
go to hell…u have some grudge with salman khan…I had read your last article as well. Don’t try to act diplomatically correct…We salman fans will always be with him and people like you won’t change that.
woke
003
4:02 pm
I LIK SALMAN > U STIPID IDOT GO TAKE A WAK..
And more such insightful thoughts to follow.
2s, Did you get a job in Headlines Today?
2S
004
4:14 pm
@VS - why, thank you. I’m a Salman fan for what he does on celluloid. Still, I appreciate it - last I checked there were activists calling me anti-Muslim for supporting Dutt and cursing Khan.
All I’m asking for here is constructive action. I’m the first to come to the rescue of Bollywood - I love the industry and its stars. I don’t subscribe to the idea of the Shylockian pound of flesh, when a little tweak can help both the community and the individual. If that’s asking for too much - oops.
Shivs
005
4:23 pm
what connection does this have with his fued with vivek oberoi?why mention and sympathise with that blabbering idiot!! lets see if u can forgive a oerson who has calls a public conference and calls u mentally sick and in need of psychatric care!!!!!
2S
006
4:38 pm
Who’s sympathyzing? The issue is that if Salman can’t put things behind him, he shouldn’t expect others to when it comes to him. You’re spot on - Vivek is a blabbering idiot-and-a-half but hey, Sallu had little to lose and everything to gain, not to mention his dignity intact. On the contrary, he’s done just what you suggested. It doesn’t evoke too much sympathy, not from me. And right now he could use all the support he gets. Dig?
Kay
007
5:26 pm
Well if you did not care you would not be writing this blog, so don’t come on here and blab on as it all sounds like sh*t, i can smell it all the way here……….
Daianna
008
5:30 pm
The problem with this case is how it highlights the inadequacies of the Indian judiciary. I don’t know if he did it or not; it should be a matter for impartial and fair judiciary to deal with and that is the catch, Indian judiciary is neither and can not be trusted. The case presented by the State from the legal point is absurd in its lack of evidence.
Blood stains in the car - a) the car was a rental, so anyone could have left them; b) they were never tested so we don’t even know how old they were or even what animal or man they belonged to.
Where is the knife used to cut the throat of the animal? Where is the bloodied clothes he wore?
They confiscated his gun and it was held for four years, but ballistics were never done, why?
There were six in a group, others were let go off for lack of evidence. But the same evidence strong enough to convict him was not strong enough to prove aiding accusation against others?
The driver who first denied incident, then - after an alleged visit from government people - he remembered everything, then after his fathers death he again said he didn’t see anything. There is a purjery case against him, but the judge based his ruling on that testimony.
And thats all they had, if a poor man was charged in such no-case circumstances, would you still claim the verdict fair and just? I think not, you would call it for what it is, prejudice.
How many people had heard of Chinkara before this case ? Not many. How many would have read and cared for the news of one Chinkara dead? Not many. But put Salman Khan into the mixture and voila you have Bishnois on the front page.
So dont tell me that Bishnois didnt seize this golden opportunity to get publicity and money. Would they have persisted the case, with such single mindlessness, if the acussed wasn’t Salman Khan? Of course not.
The court should be impartial, that means judge bases his ruling only on the evidence presented and who you are outside that courtroom should be irrelevant, rich or poor alike. The first judge in his ruling clearly stated, in two whole paragraphs, that his verdict and especially severity of the punishment was based solely on Khans social status.
Everyone says he is rich and powerful and will buy/get his way out of this, but there have been no evidence to support that charge. On the contrary, government minister publicly said yesterday that the government will petition that Khan gets no bail. For those who need translation - the minister has publicly admitted (attempting) influencing judiciary. That is a very serious crime.
It should also be noted that a) the minister kept quiet when last week rapist was given bail and b) doesnt the minister have more important cases to deal with and when was the last time he spoke against commercial poachers or against any serious criminal. Of course him stepping out would have nothing to do with the fact that Salman is the most popular celebrity and a Muslim in a state ran by Hindu nationalists. Not even a little, right.
The fact is that trials to celebrities give an appearance of equal opportunity judiciary, but in fact they are assumed guilty before trial and in sentencing they are treated more harshly. Most of the celebrities have no real political power and their wealth is incomparable to true players (politicians and tycoons). But people get involved with these trials, they get to express their selfrighteous indignation without crippling real criminals and are entertained in the process.
But things should be put in to perspective and looked at reasonably, - he is an actor accused of killing what is basically a wild goat.
If he did it, of course he should be punished. But punishment should fit a crime and its point is to reform.
If he had killed it that day a) it is unlikely he hunted specifically for that protected specie and b) it happened 9 years ago, and he hasn’t done it since. A suitable punishment would be a heavy financial fine used to protect the wild, extensive community service designed to promote animal rights and 1-6 MONTHS in jail.
The way that M. Gandhi runs a lynch campaign against him (she said his sentence should be increased to 14 years) you would think he commits genocide every weekend. But then he is a safe target, he dosent fight back and going against him garners them publicity. If you go after hardcore criminals (people whose lock up would actually benefit ordinary people) - dirty politicians, conniving tycoons, mafia dons, rapists, people who kill thousands of protected animals for financial gain - they are given bail and let off the hook because if you do they get you.
Khan is not a serial poacher (for whom the law was made) and him spending 5 years in jail serves and protects no one. You can hate someone because they are a celebrity, but it is not enough to send them to jail.
He is an actor not a hardcore criminal, but people dont care about the real case against him because he is well arrogant and therefore deserves to go to jail. And who could argue with such logic?
Irina, Finland
009
6:06 pm
I love Salman khan……alot, so u just buzz offffffffff.
2S
010
6:16 pm
<p>@Kay >> Well if you did not care you would not be writing this blog, so don’t come on here and blab on as it all sounds like sh*t, i can smell it all the way here</p>
<p>I care about resolution. If you do too, you’re on my side.</p>
@Daianna >> Excellently pointed out. If the crime does get proved, then he is guilty of killing an endangered animal - did it in all consciousness for personal benefit, and that doesn’t separate a lot from him and a hardcore criminal. If he is indeed found guilty of killing the animal.
@Irina >> I love Salman too, the actor who made me laugh in Andaz Apna Apna. And I don’t want to, but I would certainly hate Salman the murderer if/when he’s found guilty.
Rocky
011
6:18 pm
2S is a sick and jealous bastard..
Saad, Manchester
012
6:20 pm
f**k offfffff……….Sallu bahi is the best. his all fans are with him……hope fully every thing in gonna be normal for him very soon, u keep jealousing.
Rocky
013
6:23 pm
2S = TOO STUPID, MUCH LIKE HIS HERO- VIV`ACHE OBEY-RAI.
Rocky
014
6:39 pm
SALMAN KHAN IS BEING WITCHHUNTED BY THE BJP FOR BEING A STAR CAMPAIGNER OF THE CONGRESS PARTY. WHILE SANJAY DUT WAS IMPLICATED BY THE SHIVSENA IN THE 93′ CASE TO TARNISH SUNIL DUTT SAAB’S IMAGE. WHILE OVERJEALOUS 2S= TOOSTUPID BLAMES SALMAN FOR VIVEK’S MISFORTUNES AND LACK OF BRAINS. TOOSTUPID’ YOU CANNOT MISLEAD THE PEOPLE, YEH JO PUBLIC HAI YEH SAB JAANTI HAI..
jaweria
015
7:22 pm
u may noyt like him but it is no reason to do a whole web page on how much you hate him.
yes he has done wrong but at least he wants 2 make up 4 it
it isnt 4 u 2 judge
so keeep ur opinions 2 urself
SALMAN KHAN RULEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kay
016
7:32 pm
(@ 2S) I believe you should be more concerned about the poverty and the way people are discriminated against in India. These issues are more significant then sallu did this, sallu did that. why can’t people like you just leave the guy alone? Why is he being subjugated just because of his celebrity status?
You’re just jumping on the anti- salman khan bandwagon and criticizing him for something I believe u don’t care about. You’re just hunting for excuses to demoralise salman. We all know there are many individuals who envy him, are green-eyed and find comfort in making unenthusiastic remarks about him. Acknowledge it or not, you know I’m right.
I feel if you go fight against all the discrimination you would get much more respect.
2S
017
8:09 pm
@jaweria - I have a right to express my opinion just as you did. And I hope he makes up for it. I’m asking for him to be given charity work to do than go to jail. There are others out there asking for his throat. Direct your anger at them, it would do you and your loyalty to him a lot better.
@KaY > I believe you should be more concerned about the poverty and the way people are discriminated against in India.
That’s real silly, it’s like saying - why bother writing movie reviews? Poverty and indiscrimination are more important issues?
Yes - they ARE more important issues, but as of now, this is an opinion I want to express and if you have an issue with it, feel free to shout back - like you did.
It would help if you read the article in it’s context and realise what I am asking for. I’m asking for these guys to be given a chance and do their work with community service instead of confined to the prison walls. Because many of us look up to them.
I’d like to see you, Kay, drop your link where you’ve talked about poverty and discrimination only.
@Rocky - thanks for the kind words.
amreen
018
8:26 pm
wow… 2S looks like uve been inundated with fan mails :P!!! …anyway this barrage is totalli uncalled for… everyone has a rite to express his/her view points.. 2S has done juz tht… i believe all should maintain a certain dignity and sense wen posting ur opinions…. n all of u r abusing and screaming - im sori i dun understand u.
anyway getting bak to SK issue… i believe v all think alike I.E. the wrong should b punished… and this instills a better sense of discipline in our soceity. ritely said sandil… rather than locking them up away in some God-forsaken 8*8 cell tey would rather use tht star power to highlight and gain momentum to important issues which plague our nation.
EVERYBODY PEACE OUT!
ashika
019
6:57 am
salman is the best and he so not deserve this crap..plus vivek ..he saw it comin ..when he didnt have ashiwariya he wants to be friends with salman ..thats so bull!!!
peter
020
11:14 am
you filty cow worshipping lying m**** F*****s
You racist pathetic filth wont go far!
peter
021
11:17 am
and by the way u are miffed with salman cos he has been having his wicked way.:) with ashwarya rai for 4 fours. a slut!
2S
022
11:36 am
Appreciate the kind words, Peter.
p2g
023
11:10 am
Wow - that’s a really impressive reply, Daianna. This case does point out a lot of deficiencies in the Indian legal system at least at the lower court level. The Sessions judge who gave Salman bail this time around actually pointed out some of the problems with the case that you mentioned - namely circumstantial evidence was not examined properly, i.e. the blood stains of the chinkara found at different places in the jeep were not matched with that of the dead animal.
So if Salman “gets away” with poaching it will be because the prosecution presented a really shoddy case.
2S
024
12:16 pm
@p2g - yes, which sucks, but it’s what is presented, the same way the court buys the fact that Sanjay Dutt needed weapons for protecting his family.
Ravindra
025
2:38 pm
2S: I agree wholeheartedly with the entire post!
Shivas: what connection does this have with his fued with vivek oberoi?why mention and sympathise with that blabbering idiot!! lets see if u can forgive a oerson who has calls a public conference and calls u mentally sick and in need of psychatric care!!!!!
OK, lets see if u can forgive a person who calls u up 41 times in one night and abuses you and your family!!!
Rocky: SALMAN KHAN IS BEING WITCHHUNTED BY THE BJP FOR BEING A STAR CAMPAIGNER OF THE CONGRESS PARTY. WHILE SANJAY DUT WAS IMPLICATED BY THE SHIVSENA IN THE 93′ CASE TO TARNISH SUNIL DUTT SAAB’S IMAGE. WHILE OVERJEALOUS 2S= TOOSTUPID BLAMES SALMAN FOR VIVEK’S MISFORTUNES AND LACK OF BRAINS. TOOSTUPID’ YOU CANNOT MISLEAD THE PEOPLE, YEH JO PUBLIC HAI YEH SAB JAANTI HAI..
Save your imagination from running riot! Isnt this being too far fetched? Does the BJP have a say in virtually anything that happens these days? Its a totally written off party, without any leader or ideology!
Lolo
026
7:59 pm
Bull shit post..dude u r comparison of salman and sanjay dutt’s case is trash…salman’s crime is much smaller than sanjay dutt’s..i mean stop being jealous and shut up….and do something better..u sound like a juvenile lil idiot !!!!
2S
027
11:36 pm
@Lolo - I am jealous? of Salman Khan? Oh, indeed, I am oh-so-jealous, I am just dying to go to jail, ain’t I?
Happy
028
10:46 am
Reading all this is such a enjoyble waste of time :-).
Great going u guys keep the post going, i’ll suerly come back again to kill some more time