Don't We Owe An Apology To Rhea Chakraborty For The Witch Hunt And Media Trials?

The Bombay High Court has finally granted bail to Rhea Chakraborty after she spent a month in jail. She was taken into custody during an investigation on the drug angle in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. However, it cannot be denied that apart from the investigations and interrogations, Chakraborty became the target of patriarchy, politics and media trials.

In the name of justice for Rajput, the society initiated a witch hunt against her for being his "murderer" although there was no legitimate proof to corroborate this claim. Chakraborty was vilified as “gold digger”, “vishkanya”, scheming Bengali woman, a witch who practices kala jaadu, promiscuous, controlling and what not. She received rape and murder threats. As if that was not enough, she underwent one of the worst media trials that not only breached her privacy but also left no stone unturned to incite mob justice and declare Chakraborty as guilty, even before the law did.

In an interview with India Today, Chakraborty had clearly mentioned that the media trials and social criticism she and her family were facing has affected their mental health. She even admitted to having had suicidal thoughts. Will she get justice for being vilified and trolled to such an extent for absolutely nothing? How will the damage done to her and her family’s reputation, daily lives and mental health be repaired? What kind of system is it in which an accused person undergoes all kinds of public humiliation, trials and alienation even before he or she is proven guilty or innocent? THow can we forget that image of her being manhandled by media when she went for NCB probe? Doesn’t everyone owe an apology to Chakraborty? For disrespecting her humanity, judging her for her gender and using her name to push the TRPs of media channels and leverage personal, political and professional propagandas?

Also Read: Coverage of Rhea Chakraborty Signals New Low for Indian Media

Many celebrities have reacted to Chakraborty’s bail asking the same question.

How will India apologise to #RheaChakraborty?

— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) October 7, 2020

Actor Huma Qureshi took to twitter and said, “Everyone owes #RheaChakraborty an apology .. And there must be an investigation into people who started these murder conspiracy theories .. Shame on you for destroying a girl and her family’s life for your agendas”

News Anchor and Deputy Editor Chaiti Nirula at India Today wrote, “I hope this #RheaChakraborty witch-hunt ends now."

Executive editor at News Laundry, Manisha Pande also pointed towards the unjust media trials against Chakraborty. She tweeted, “#RheaChakraborty gets bail. As early as August, TV news anchors zeroed in on her portraying her as the 'controlling girlfriend' who had enslaved a 34-year-old man in his own house. Much of this coverage was led by women anchors." She also shared a collage of Aaj Tak's sensational headlines about Chakraborty's alleged involvement in Rajput's death which read "Love, Sex Aur Dhoka", "Sushant Par Rhea Ka Kaala Jaadu".

Here's her tweet

#RheaChakraborty gets bail. As early as August, TV news anchors zeroed in on her portraying her as the 'controlling girlfriend' who had enslaved a 34-year-old man in his own house. Much of this coverage was led by women anchorshttps://t.co/yZ5fh5INjn

— Manisha Pande (@MnshaP) October 7, 2020

Aiming at the media trials, Journalist Rohini Singh tweeted, “A young girl has been in jail because of TV anchors. Those justifying it today should know that tomorrow it could be them if the media decides it wants TRPs or has to peddle a political agenda. The news channels owe a grovelling apology to #RheaChakraborty. They are criminals."

Roses are red
violets are blue,
if you still watch news channels, more fool you. #RheaChakraborty

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) October 7, 2020

I don't know if the same mob that took the law in their hands to seek justice for Sushant Singh Rajput will now rise up to apologise with #JusticeforRhea. But is an apology enough to put an end to the patriarchal stereotypes that were only re-emphasised in this whole episode? What is the guarantee that tomorrow any other woman will not go through the same misogynistic vilification,  not be called as gold digger, a villainous girlfriend who separated a man from his family, or face rape and murder threats? What will ensure that media channels will no longer peddle political agenda but honest journalism? Aren't we seeing the whole cycle repeating itself in the Hathras case? Justice is a luxury for daughters in this country, whether she is a Bollywood actor or a teen Dalit girl from a village in UP.