What a colossal waste of newsprint (Shedunit?, Sep 7). Television channels, of course, can’t afford to be left behind in the race for trps. If at all the media truly cares about taking up the cause of justice, they should bring to the fore cases involving the powerless and hapless in the hinterland who can’t afford legal representation on their own. The affected concern on the faces of the reporters and anchors who speak ad nauseam on Indrani and her accomplices is sickening to watch. This sustained attention on a high-society figure only plays to a public instinct to see the mighty fall. Vicarious pleasure, I say. It is depressing to see this mindless reporting on a case which should just be left to find its natural course within the law. Does Outlook have to carry a cover story on Indrani and her foibles? Has this country nothing else to think about, especially when farmer suicides are rising and corruption as an issue festers in the public imagination? Stop this titillation and pandering to rumour-mongering! It is time to elevate public discourse and shun tabloid culture.
Anand Srinivasan, Bangalore
I wouldn’t blame trp-hungry TV for latching on to this non-story, but I expected better from Outlook. You may have had the time, energy and money to waste on this story, but I didn’t have the time to waste on reading the story.
Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun
What a waste of seven precious pages and the cover. How does this story be of any interest to any sensible reader?
Sivagopal Valluri, on e-mail
I am unable to understand. How is it that Indrani Mukerjea deserves to be on the cover of Outlook more than a socially relevant piece on HIV-AIDS? True, gossip, sleaze, sex and murder sell more than anything else. And Outlook has turned out to be no different. So follow the herd, the ethics of journalism be damned.
Pradeep Mathur, New Delhi
This case proves two things 1) the truth will out, and 2) it is stranger than fiction.
Dinesh Kumar, Chandigarh
By putting l’affaire Indrani on the cover, you have wasted exactly one-sixth of the reading pages of the issue with a non-event which concerns not even 10 people in India.
Surendra Garg, on e-mail
Mother of all Crimes: What a nice headline. And I wonder why the accused failed to finish off the driver. Sherlock’s one evidence always left behind.
V.N.K. Murti, Pattambi
Nobody would have raised an eyebrow if Peter’s son had married Indrani’s daughter. So why did she murder Sheena? That is the question which remains unanswered.
Meghana A., New South Wales
The media has already tried and convicted her, now let’s see if the case holds up in court.
Mohan, Adipur
The ‘list of high-profile cases’ graphic should have begun with the 1950s Nanavati case.
Ramesh Ramachandra, Bangalore
Since the nation wans to know anyhow, perhaps the media can have embedded entities so that no sordid detail goes undiscovered or unreported in such ‘high-profile’ cases. The country's police could even make it official, pay up to get threadbare coverage.
Pavana H.P., Bangalore
A queen bee with her three drones, whatever will we possibly see next?
A. Selva Raj, Arcot