Demanding Systemic Reform: Legal & Police Accountability

Speaking on NDTV about a landmark Supreme Court ruling concerning the POCSO Act. I explain that when a law is flawed, it fails to deliver justice. Treating consensual teenage relationships as rape stigmatizes young people and clogs the justice system. It is time to rectify the law to reflect today's social realities.

The Pune Porsche case highlights the deep flaws in the Juvenile Justice Act. The law is designed to reform children, but when it is applied to a heinous crime committed by a wealthy, entitled teenager, it results in a mockery of justice. I explain on Zee TV how the initial bail order was a direct, though flawed, application of this lenient law.

The suicide of software engineer Atul Subhash after being implicated in a false dowry case is a tragedy that exposes the misuse of Section 498A. I have fought cases where entire families, including sisters and brothers-in-law, are falsely accused. This is not a failure of the law itself, but of corrupt implementation by the police, which needs to be addressed.

The conviction rate in rape cases in India is a dismal 28%, and it often takes over a decade to get a verdict. This delay and the lack of a witness protection program mean that rapists have very good odds of getting away with their crimes. This is a systemic failure that emboldens criminals and denies justice to victims.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The Nirbhaya rapists were hanged 11 years after the crime, by which time the connection between the crime and punishment was lost. For the law to be a true deterrent, punishment must be swift. The current system, with its endless appeals and paroles, fails to deliver that message.

The case of Puja Khedkar, who allegedly used fake OBC and disability certificates to enter the IAS, is just the tip of the iceberg. I have been fighting this for years. People with influence know how to hijack the system through corruption. I demand a full inquiry into all disability and OBC quota recruitments to expose this scam.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau's probe into the father of IAS officer Puja Khedkar is a necessary step. I have long advocated for the dismissal of officers who use fake caste and disability certificates. The verification process for reservations must be strict to ensure the benefits go to those who genuinely deserve them.

The rot in our system is deep. Political appointees chair our public service commissions, and corruption allows people to buy fake OBC and medical certificates. In the case of Puja Khedkar, it is not enough to just terminate her. We must prosecute the tehsildar who issued the certificate and the doctors who faked the medical reports.

I support the Bombay High Court's ruling that certain restrictive household behaviors do not legally constitute "cruelty" under dowry laws. It is crucial to distinguish between serious abuse and family disagreements to prevent the misuse of Section 84 of the BNS. The focus must remain on genuine cases of violence and harassment.