In our country people think they can do anything and get away with it easily: Anup Soni

The verdict is out for the criminals involved in the Delhi rape case. And at this juncture, Sony Entertainment Television as we know finally airs the special episode on the Delhi gang rape case in Crime Patrol (Optimystix Production). Here, we bring you the views of the show’s presenter Anup Soni, who appreciates the verdict but has an ambiguous opinion on the death sentence. “I have two opinions on that. I wouldn’t advocate death sentence completely but it depends on the type of crime that has been committed. What these men did was exceptionally brutal. The girl and her friend also sought their mercy but they had turned devils. So, I am okay with this judgment. In our country people think that they can do anything and get away with it easily. So in order to instil fear in the minds of criminals we needed to prove a point,” says Soni. The episode was shot in January (2013) but was put on hold after initial protests. “We have always followed facts and don’t twist the incidents and just want to raise a few questions. Even in this case, we followed what has been told and recorded by the police. We had no intention whatsoever to sensationalise the issue and get any viewership mileage. By airing the gang rape, we are simply talking about the lessons we have learnt out of it, the precautions we need to take and changes we can implement,” he avers. The actor believes that justice should be delivered in all the cases and not just the ones highlighted by media. “I have a strong opinion on acid attacks. We shot an episode on Sonali Mukherjee whose face was destroyed when sprinkled with acid. The culprits of this case are roaming free even today which is very sad,” he rues. After doing the show the 38-year-old has become a different person. He says his point of view and the way of looking at others have changed. “I have become more sensitive towards people than what I used to be three years ago. We spend endlessly on our lifestyles but start squabbling over petty issues without service providers. People would dine out at an expensive restaurant but would never pay extra money to the maid at home. It is high time that we start understanding their perspectives,” he observes adding that the difference between rich and poor is one of the factors behind converting man into devil. “There is a kind of frustration in society. In Mumbai, they say that outsiders are part of the crimes happening here. But one should realise that the man committing a crime also has a family and children. They should be treated as human beings. They need to be given what they deserve. If you understand others, life will be easier,” he maintains. Soni, who has been with Crime Patrol for a long time, doesn’t hesitate in adding his inputs. He reads the entire screenplay of the episode. “Sometimes I even add certain lines that my team is happy to incorporate. I don’t take part in the research process since there is a dedicated department to take care of this,” he informs. Well, with a show that contributes so much to the society, having a presenter as dedicated as Anup is always an added advantage.