Shahrukh Khan Hanged Without Trial

Following close on the heels of actor Shiney Ahuja's alleged rape case, comes the news that Shahrukh Khan – probably Bollywood’s most recognizable face - has got himself in a mess because of some allegedly defamatory statements he made against Prophet Mohammed in a magazine article. Some group calling itself the Mumbai Aman Committee(MAC) is up in arms over this and has even managed to convince the police to file a case against Khan.

Let me state at the outset that I hold no brief for Shahrukh Khan, nor do I hold any opinion on his guilt or innocence. However, it is really distressing how motley religious groups purporting to speak for the entire community are so readily given gratuitous publicity by the media. The headline to a related article in an evening newspaper ("Muslims sore over actor's remarks about Prophet") is itself provocative and misleading. Just who is this Mumbai Aman Committee; and why is it that their website furnishes virtually no information about their organization and activities? Just because some spokesman from the MAC took objection to Shahrukh Khan's alleged statement, why should it be automatically inferred that all "Muslims" are sore? The irony is that the MAC website opens with the logo of a dove surrounded by the words. "We believe in peace". And yet the President of the same organization issues a belligerent statement to the effect that "they would not allow Shahrukh's body to be buried anywhere in Maharashtra". What gives him the authority to issue such a diktat? Are we living in a police state?

And talking of the police, their action in this matter is even more reprehensible, although on expected lines. It is most unfortunate that the police are so assiduous in filing a case whenever a celebrity is involved. It is open to doubt that they have even done any thorough investigation. And this is the same police force that displays such reluctance to file an FIR in more serious crimes - especially when the complainant comes from a poor or middle class family. They have even announced his possible sentence of three years in prison, even though there have yet been no court proceedings. This is nothing but publicity-seeking grandstanding.

Coming so soon after the Sheetal Mafatlal drama, it leads one to the despairing conclusion that the Mumbai police really needs to get its priorities in order.