Because every crime committed is a crime of passion. Hence it is essentially a human story at heart. It is only great feeling that turns into hatred great enough to push a person off the edge. Find the person behind the crime, and his feeling, and you will find an understanding of human nature.

Often, these high profile cases are all storm and thunder that completely bypass the people they're talking to. I went back to Rinku Sachdeva's parents one evening on assignment and sat and had coffee with them in their simple, beautiful home in Borivili. I could have hugged the gentleman who was her father, because he was so like mine. It could have happened to me and this could easily have been my family. I couldn't file that story. It was too personal a story to tell. They said too much, they held back too painful tears, and they lived through too much trauma for me to put it out there. I couldn't do it.

Aarushi Talwar's father - Rajesh Talwar - was innocent until proven guilty. He was put behind bars for his own daughter's murder, commented on by unthinking members of the police, the public, the media and probably even his neighbours. He lost his job, his credibility and probably his self confidence. Sure he was patted on the back and set free with a clean chit two months later. How does a father/ a parent recover from something like this? and I find it very disconcerting that the same people who were certain enough that he was guilty to print it and comment on it in news studios, later jut thought nothing of doing a volte face.

Anand John was the toast of the Mumbai circuit when he was 'discovered' as the fashion designer of the year 200-something. I was a rookee journalist then in a publication that joined the chorus of adoration. Oh how we loved him, how we flaunted him, how we toasted him, how we wanted a sound byte, a single quote, how we boasted of receiving invites to parties he was at. I remember one prominent socialite introducing him to everyone as an icon of India in the US, the pathbreaker who would put India on th international map. Strong words those. Based on what? If he was so drop dead talented, which I presume was what everyone was gaga about - or weren't they? - did he lose his talent overnight? Can I say something to everyone out there who is pointing a finger at Anand John and who was part of the party back in 200-something? We made him. We made him what he was - we built him up not on the merit of his talent, which frankly no one was even discussing past day 1, but on the basis of the size of his entourage. Because we loved the feeling and the look of his fame. We wanted a darling, something to cuddle and hold and flaunt and show off, and tossed him aside when we found him tainting our fingers, unworthy of our trust. Because the media painted him larger than life. How we flock to the bright lights! The chilling thing is it could be anyone. If you wrote a book today, or designed wonderful clothes, or were an excellent chef, they would be around you too. Except you would never know if it was based on the merit of the work you created or your ability to say the right things, be in the right places, make the right friends. You get swept up in it because that is the nature of fame. There is a victim to this crime too. And it's not always who you think it is.

The same people who threw parties for him then won't even comment on his incarceration to dailies today. I don't know Anand John or his guilt from Adam. I do know many of the people who deny him. I don't think I like them very much.

Every crime has its victims. The courts of law decide who is the victim and who is the criminal in absolute terms. But there are other kinds of victims involved too. Often, one of these is the criminal himself. Sometimes, emotionally, culturally, morally, the bystanders and onlookers, are criminals too. For jumping the gun, for being quick to judge, for holding on when you should let go, for letting go when you should hold on, for stepping too close, for standing too far.

There is no way to judge a criminal without getting involved in the absoluteness of legal documents, detective work. It is far easier to take the route most of us do - decide based on facts as they seem to us. Based on what is apparent. We do it in social situations too. Is she having an affair? Has she slept her way up teh corporate ladder? Is she an irresponsible parent? Does he deserve to lose his job? Does he deserve his loss of financial fortunes?
Step back. Be still. Acknowledge that you will never know. And do the right thing, no matter how hard it seems.

As Pyarelal (of Laxmikant Pyarelal fame) recited for me last week...
Kabira Baithe ped pe, Maange sab ki khair, Khud ko na pata, Kaun apna hai, kaun ghair...

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