By IANS,
New Delhi : The children’s rights panel Monday approached the information and broadcasting ministry expressing concern after Nupur Talwar, mother of murdered teenager Aarushi, sought its help against Balaji Telefilms’ plans to make a soap opera on the life and death of her daughter.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) member Sandhya Bajaj said that Talwar, who approached the panel Monday along with her friends and relatives, was aghast at Balaji Telefilms’ propoal to use the family tragedy “to earn TRPs (television rating points)”.
Aarushi was found dead at her Noida residence May 16. While police initially suspected missing domestic help Hemraj, his body was also found in the same building the next day.
Her father Rajesh Talwar, a prominent dentist, has been arrested as a suspect in the twin murder. The Noida police initially cast aspersions on his character and even on that of victim Aarushi – a statement that has been condemned by many,
The case is now being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“We have lost our child and now they (Balaji Telefilms) are planning to show her life on television. It would affect the case. How can they earn from our tragedy?!” Nupur, also a dentist, said when she came to meet the commission members.
In her letter to the commission, the mother said: “Balaji Telefilms is taking an undue advantage of the publicity of this case. They have now claimed on record that they will incorporate the Aarushi killing as part of the popular daily soap ‘Kahani Ghar Ghar Kii’.
“They plan to glorify the concept of honour killing, a thought which is absolutely abhorrent to any educated person … the serial should definitely be not allowed as it would influence the investigation and the final outcome of the case.”
Questioning the role of the media, the letter said: “Does the media have the right to vitiate the public opinion to the extent that an innocent person is made the victim of salacious machinations designed to increase TRPs of the channel?”
Bajaj told IANS: “We are going to serve a notice to Balaji Telefilms telling them not to make a serial on a child who is no more and where the investigation (into her murder) is pending. This is all for TRPs.”
After meeting Talwar, the commission wrote a two-page note to Information and Broadcasting Secretary Asha Swarup, saying: “NCPCR hereby directs that Balaji Telefilms shouldn’t be allowed to make a serial on the Aarushi murder case until the investigation is over as it will amount to influencing the investigation and the final outcome of the case.”
Talwar also approached the information and broadcasting ministry.