Aarushi murder case: Who is actual culprit?

Vikash Ranjan

New Delhi

Mon, 14 Jul 2008: 

Even after CBI’s indication that the case is closed, there are still many unanswered questions lingering around on the sensational Aarushi murder case. The CBI's clean chit to Dr. Rajesh Talwar in the Noida double murder is all evident now with its Director Vijay Shankar’s statement: “I am hundred rcent confident that the case is closed and the killers have been caught.

” However, the foremost question that continues to haunt general mass is: can the disgrace meted out to the family ever be compensated?

Whatever CBI is saying is the outcome of narco analysis of Rajkumar, the domestic help of Talwar's neighbour and others. But narco analysis does not hold ground before judiciary. The court comes to any conclusion only on the basis of evidences and that is still a distant away from the hands of CBI.

Now talking about UP police, this is the same Noida police under whose jurisdiction one of the most gruesome “Nithari murder case” occurred last year, when the police had no clue whatsoever. And, this is the same Noida police, who were caught as saying that if Rajesh Talwar found guilty in CBI probe then what CBI discovered in so many days, it could found within a week.

Sarcastically, as the CBI has declared its intention clearing Talwars, not a single top police official has come forward to accept their laxity in investigation. However, an Inspector General (IG) of UP police came before media saying “if Noida police were investigating the case, it would have come at the same conclusion what the CBI unearthed.” If the police think by saying the “above statement” its duty is completed, nothing is shameful than that. They have already sunk to the lowest level with the farce they pulled off in investigation.

During the nascent stage of investigation without any evidence and thorough examination, a responsible Noida police officer came with his imaginary story based on the statement of today's prime accused Krishna, compounder of Dr. Rajesh Talwar saying the case is solved: Dr. Rajesh Talwar had affair, daughter Aarushi knew it but did not approve their illicit relationship, even Aarushi had affair with her servant-Hemraj and one night father Talwar caught them in an ‘objectionable but not compromising position’ and murdered both of them in a fit of rage. The UP police termed it “honour killing” without paying heed to Talwars.

In every murder case, the first suspect becomes servant, driver or other near and dear ones of family irrespective of later investigation found them innocent. However, that did not happen after Hemraj found dead. Why did police blindly follow Krishna? If, once for a while, we accept the police served their duty with full dedication, then the government must think the UP police needs a proper training, especially while investigating a murder case.

First the UP police assassinated the characters of deceased teenager and media did the rest, certainly more than Police. Nobody thought under what circumstances the Talwar family were passing. Police were happy to unearth the murder case in a couple of days and the media were contented enough with a sensational story that augmented their TRPs beyond barrier. Instead of supporting and paying duty as a responsible 'fourth pillar,' media restricted themselves to sensationalise the story for merely profit making.

One of the news channels, without verifying the girl, aired an obscene video footage and phrased her as Aarushi keeping aside the whole notion of media ethics and principles. The video in no way facilitated the investigation but it brought disgrace to Aarushi’s name.

The sensationalisation of story is not a blunder on the part of reporters only; the whole media management is responsible for that. Reporters and the whole production unit, owing to competition from its counterpart, invoke themselves in giving a sensational touch to a simple story. They follow the famous saying “jo Dikhta hai wo bikta hai -- Whoever exposes the most, sells the most.”

This is not the first incident when media have displayed an irresponsible act. Perhaps the whole media management has to think seriously about it; to keep intact the “code of media ethics” while dealing with such cases. Certainly, this is the darker side of media which it must be dealt with the earliest.

Speaking of sensibility, another rash attempt was made when TV serial maker Ekta Kapoor came forward with her desire to make a serial on Aarushi Talwar, so as to assassin her character on the TV screens. If she was not restricted to do so, perhaps the Talwar family would have committed suicide after its telecast.

Dr. Rajesh Talwar is free from any charges now. But the painful moments of 59 days that he spent behind bars as prime accused of murdering his own daughter would take long years to disappear. Furthermore, the fateful night when his daughter left them in perpetuity when the Talwar family was in deep sleep.... that peaceful sleep they might get in the times to come. The whole incident has left behind a grave question of ‘who is the real culprit--UP police, media or both’.