MERA BHARAT MAHAN

"MERA BHARAT MAHAN"... These were the first words which gushed out of my mouth when I saw yesterday's headlines. The story was about Jessica Lal who was shot dead in a bar on refusing a drink to a mindless creature. The verdict of the Court is out and all those who were accused are now free. Free to commit yet another crime coz they know they are in India where you have the license to commit crimes if you are wealthy or have some "contacts".
The logic behind the acquittal: the revolver which was supposedly used by the criminals was missing. What the hell!
What happens next? If the revolver is not recovered then the court's verdict would be "JESSICA WAS NOT MURDERED IN THE BAR “or rather "SHE WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE BAR THAT NIGHT ". The news will be in the media for a few days and then Jessica Lal will be lost in some files, only to be remembered as a murder case.
Every body in the party that night knows whose the killer but nobody has the guts to come forward and identify that bastard. Two of them had tried to show courage but again some kind of pressurizing turned them hostile. this is India where a witness can change his statement whenever he feels like no matter what may be the consequences. Our legal system is such a handicap that no action can be taken against a witness who turns hostile. In my opinion if this kind of situation arises where a case takes a different course due to the hostility of the witnesses and the accused are acquitted due to lack of evidences then first of all these witnesses should be booked for the crime and should be punished accordingly. You name and I shall show you that each and every case in India meets a dead-end mainly due to the hostility of the witnesses. The Best bakery case is another very good example.
Secondly, why can’t we have some more efficient organizations like CBI? I know that all such cases can’t be handled by CBI but I am sure that had the case gone in the clutches of CBI it would have successfully thrown the culprits behind the bars. This is where your "contacts" come into picture. If you have committed a crime and you are a relative of a minister or a beaurocrat you need not worry. I think this is the message the Indian Judiciary has sent by acquitting all the accused.

The case was registerd in 1999 and the verdict comes out in 2006. 7 years for one case...really amazing.

What does Jessicas's family get?: disappointments and frustrations.

What do culprits get? : another chance to murder an innocent and slap on the face of law.

Now I understand the significance of the black piece of cloth on the eyes of the statue symbolising Indian judiaciary system.