Salman Khan has finally been sentenced to five years in jail for running over and killing pavement dwellers. The entire Bollywood has risen like a trade union expressing support and solidarity for Salman Khan. Even before the judgement came, we saw numerous persons singing paeans for Salman - he is a true friend of friends, he is a philanthropist par excellence, he has the heart of a five-year-old and he is nothing but honey and sugar. Some of the Bollywood comrades of the convict have actually gone on to call the pavement dwellers the real culprit! Why did those poor, destitutes, hungry, unwashed, unclothed and uncouth scums of the world come in the way of the fancy car which ran on petrol in its tank and alcohol in the veins of the great hero?
Not that these guys bother about the Indian concept of Karma, but they need to be reminded that one must pay for one's deed as it is laid down in the books of law, morality and ethics. Well, one can possibly satisfy the canons of morality and ethics by philanthropy and donations, but law has its own books that prescribe jail for killing a man.
"Let law take its own course" and "I have full faith in the judiciary" are two oft repeated
statements of those facing conviction. But, there is an unstated expectation and indeed, an unspoken claim of being treated favourably. Well, in this case a thousand good deeds of Salman have not been able to mitigate the loss of an innocent life. So he goes to jail.
If Salman and his friends really believe that his good deeds and the heart of gold should have helped him escape conviction, they are wrong. They should be telling him that his good deeds will give him strength to bear the jail sentence. That is how Karma works.
