Not that Shin(e)y.

Rapes are being reported worldwide with alarming regularity. According to some statistics, only one in 69 rape cases in India are even reported. Only 20 % of those reported result in convictions.

In a scenario like above I’m not sure what is more shocking, the fact that one more victim was added to the statistics or the fact that a heinous crime like this has been committed by a celebrity. Not to glamorize celebrities as immortal but this certain section of the society does have a larger moral responsibility towards millions who look up to them. What is it with fame and power that attracts vice and disgrace? Take our west wood heroes like Bill Clinton, Hugh Grant for e.g.

I’ve generally associated Shiney Ahuja with potential, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what conceived in his head that fateful afternoon leading to his downfall. Could sex be the only motive for a crime like this or are there other physiological and psychological factors attached that drive the testosterones in a man. If getting laid is all he wanted I’m sure there could have been many other outlets.

Some believe Shiney has been framed for his fortune and the man is innocent. Would they believe the same if the victim was not his maid, but another influential somebody.
Would the furor pick up the same intensity if it was a ‘normal rape’ – i.e. not between a master and his slave, not between the mighty and the suppressed, not between a politician and a commoner? Why has Yogita Thakre’s case been brushed under the carpet already? She was all of seven when her world ended. Is anyone listening?

For the sake of argument let’s look at the other side of the coin, if it was a case of consensual intercourse, then Shiney seems to be the victim here, he’s been raped of status, his career, and probably his family.
‘He was a good man’, ‘I’ve never had any problems with Shiney’, ‘this is all a trap’ is what some of his close associates quoted. Was media really expecting a record saying ‘I truly believe Shiney is capable of such a peccadillo?’ How would what his school teacher thought of him help the investigation?

This case has raised a very important question though, if found guilty he will be jailed for 7 years and deservingly so, but if this is a case of ‘blame the victim’, how can his innocence be proved. Due to the aggressive nature of men in general, the laws enforced are to favour the testimony of the victim as final. Can any form of chemical analysis, signs of force, be checked before convicting? There is a new method called checking for vagina lubrication, and only if no intent of intercourse can be proved from the victim’s side can a verdict be given. So basically the victim, if a victim, is made to endure the ordeal over ands over again. These victims or offenders are not psychotic killers capable of mind games. If a lie detector can be used to map minds and convict the likes of Dawood, can they not be used under such circumstances as well?

They say if there is a god, justice shall be done. But I’d like to know if there is a god, why isn’t justice served from the word go?