Following filmmaker Sanjay Gupta’s comments regarding the media treatment of Rhea Chakraborty (the actress involved with the Sushant Singh Rajput case) in comparison to Siya Goyal (an alleged participant in the murder case of Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal), a fierce debate began on social media. Many users accused Gupta of comparing apples to oranges when it came to the two individuals’ respective experiences with the media.
Gupta’s thoughts were made public after he commented on how extensive the coverage has been regarding the investigation into the murder of Ketan Agarwal, and then questioned whether or not the public had forgotten the way in which Rhea Chakraborty had been treated in the media during the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, before coming to a conclusion in the second case.
His post quickly went viral, but not for the reasons he may have expected.
Social media users have been very critical of Gupta’s tweet and have stated that it’s inappropriate to compare Rhea’s case to the allegations of Siya Goyal. A large number of users pointed out that Rhea was never accused of being a murderer while Pune Police have alleged that there is a conspiracy with co-accused Chetan Chaudhary at Lohagad Fort which resulted in the death of her boyfriend Ketan Agarwal by being thrown from the top of a cliff. Investigators also say the method of murder premeditated and that this remains under review.
Many comments made online about Gupta’s tweet accuse him of drawing a “false equivalence.” Users argue that circumstances of these two murders are entirely different. Furthermore, many users agree with Gupta’s overarching message that media trials can influence public opinion before the legal process is completed.
The Ketan Agarwal incident has shocked many individuals across the country when police disclosed that he was murdered while visiting Lohagad Fort. Both co-accused (Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary) continue to deny each other’s accusations as police gather additional evidence and continue to seek forensic examination (e.g. polygraph testing on Goyal) in this case.
As this debate continues to unfold online, Gupta’s comments have further amplified many issues including media ethics, public perception, and the problems associated with announcing guilt before the judicial system has completed its process.
