Stars above the law
I believe firmly that celebrities get away with crimes due to their influence and expensive lawyers (‘Salman Khan out for now’, Gulf News, May 9). They often make a mockery of the judicial system in India. The argument put by readers is that common people’s cases aren’t highlighted as much, because they are not celebrities. Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s case has been such a joke. India always boasts about its judicial system, but is this justice? A case from 2003 has only just seen a verdict. A person lost his life because Khan was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Yet, the country’s courts took 13 long years to deliver the punishment for this crime.
Another actor, Sanjay Dutt, allegedly supported terrorists and, in turn, many people lost their lives and the country was shaken. Even if we agree that he was not aware of what was being planned, he was a part of a conspiracy to hide weapons and was in touch with masterminds. However, this was not enough to prove him guilty. The system took such a long time to punish him. The judicial system in India surely needs to be reformed. No one should be above the law and justice should be delivered as quickly as possible. Celebrities have always been above the law and, unfortunately, it seems like they will always remain there.
From Mr Sunil Vasandani
Dubai
Still needs punishment
Khan was found guilty of allegedly killing someone and when you kill someone, that means murder. Yes, he has done a lot of good work and he has given a lot of money to charity and that is great. But, he needs to be punished for killing someone, even if it was an accident due to him being drunk.
From Ms Ally S. McKenzie
UAE
Facebook comment
Accidents aren’t crimes
People are mistaking this accident as a crime. Rapists are free and India’s murderers don’t get life sentences. If Khan committed a mistake, he has done his time by doing good deeds. That should be honoured, too. How many people with disabilities are receiving aid through him and how many children can now have a life and be happy because of him? In Khan’s case, it seems to be about an innocent person being harassed for an accident.
In response to Ms Ally S. McKenzie, don’t judge Khan as a murderer. What about rapists and politicians who do crimes intentionally and are ruling countries?
From Ms Naziya Hussain
UAE
Facebook comment
Paving the way for crime
No doubt, no one is above the law, but a weak, corrupt and easily influenced judicial system makes a country a more insecure place. If the judicial system of a country is not strong enough, then it paves the way for crimes to occur.
From Mr Qassim Mohammad
UAE
Can’t get away
Drunk driving and killing the poor cannot be simply let off as a mistake. Being famous and depressed doesn’t give one the license to kill. Setting up a so-called charity for the needy and selling expensive goods in order to help the poor will not erase this pain.
From Mr Nabeel Balloch
Dubai
Facebook comment
Simple economics
Come on people, those of you who are calling Khan a murderer and asking for justice, it doesn’t make sense! It’s simple economics. He is so big that he moves the country’s shares and markets. He is one of the highest tax payers in India. Do you think that one man sleeping on the street who has lost his life is worth this much money and the hundreds of jobs that the country’s economy gets through Khan? Get over it!
From Mr Yasser Abdul Aziz
UAE
Facebook comment
Pot calling kettle black
If a country’s judicial system is weak, its people will never get justice. So many lawyers and judges are crooks, yet they want to deliver ‘justice’. Corrupt systems just bring about unfairness.
From Ms Fatima Hade-Abdul
UAE
Facebook comment
Khan is doing good
Many rapists and lowly criminals are walking free. Although Khan has allegedly committed to the crime, for the past few years, he has been serving humanity and helping needy people a lot. He is a man with a big heart. It was a great decision taken by the judge, focusing on all the social services he has been doing.
From Mr Bista Bimal
UAE
Facebook comment
Turn to positive action
I also believe that Khan did this crime by mistake. Instead of feeling for the victims, India should take action and provide the poor with housing and shelters so that such accidents can be avoided. Khan has saved the lives of thousands of people by donating and supporting those who suffer from cancer. He is an idol for India. He fell quickly, asked God to forgive him and he helped the victims as much as he can. He will continue to support and help victims and other poor people until the end.
From Mr K. Raheemoo
UAE
Full name withheld on request
Bad decision
The judiciary has ridiculed itself with its decision. Whatever hope there was for restoring the Indian judicial system to one that hands out proper justice, has been lost again. It has just proved that you can turn the law with money, influence and talk and nothing else.
From Mr Abdul Haque Khan
UAE
Facebook comment
Let’s move on
It was an accident! To the people of India, nobody wanted Khan to fall asleep under the influence of alcohol. So, let us forgive and forget so that we can move on.
From Mr Bobby Libor
UAE
Facebook comment
Is he a good person?
I am disappointed because I wasn’t expecting this from Khan. People say he is a changed man, but after seeing him walking away free, I don’t think so.
From Mr Danish Waqar
UAE
Facebook comment
Justice will come
To Khan, I say, you can hit and run, but remember, you can never hide! He may run as much as he can, but I believe justice will find him. His time will come and until then, he is doing whatever he wants.
From Ms Christina Scurville
Dubai
Facebook comment
Government action for poor
No, Khan is one of the actors who helps poor people a lot. His drunk driving was a blunder or mistake. It is obvious he will never commit such a mistake again. It is intention that matters. It was an accident and that too, at night, when all were asleep in their homes and it was dark. Also, the roads are not too far from footpaths. Now, 13 years passed, but still, some people who cannot afford shelter will be found on footpaths. Why doesn’t the Indian government or its police force take responsibility for the poor in society?
From Ms Heena Chander Hariramani
UAE
Facebook comment
Punishment corrects offenders
It is true and, with respect, I can think of thousands of cases where people get away with crime by paying money. Punishment for crimes should not be avoided by influence or affluence. The people who pay for the crimes they commit are wrong. The punishment is in place to correct the offenders, so if they pay money, it doesn’t guarantee that they will not commit such crimes again, later in the future. So, protecting a criminal should not be taken lightly in society. There are many more criminals out there who feel that they are above the law.
From Mr Om Prakash Sharma
Hamirpur, India
Our ultimate judge
I don’t think we need to worry, there is no problem because God is watching everything. Anyhow, Khan will be punished for what he did.
From Mr Nabila Shaikh Kadar
UAE
Facebook comment
Hurting feelings
I think that there is no need to hurt the sentiments of millions of his fans. It’s the judgement from the high court and that should be respected. Stirring up these sentiments could cause further negativity.
From Mr Nayaz Shaikh
UAE
No end in sight
It seems that anything is possible in incredible India. An alleged mass murderer becomes Prime Minister, killers walk free, rapists are winning elections from jail, judges are accepting bribes and the list is endless. There is no end to the corruption in sight.
From Mr Nasser Khan
Dubai
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