"I am a proud Indian. I am also innocent'

Pritish Nandy

Two weeks ago, the London High Court turned down the Indian Government's request to extradite music director Nadeem Saifi, the key suspect in the Gulshan Kumar murder case.

The court ruled that there is no prima facie case against him.

This takes us back to the moot question: Is an innocent man being framed for a crime he did not commit? Opinions are divided on this:

What do you feel about the judgement? Vindicated?

Absolutely. As you know, I am a proud Indian. I am also innocent.

Circumstances had conspired against me to make me look like a guilty person.

I have again and again said this: I am not guilty of the crime.

This judgement was a great break for me. It has restored to me my honour, my self-respect. I am now confident that I will get justice; that my innocence will be established in any court that they may choose to try me in.

What is your next step?

I am considering the possibility of suing the Bombay Police for the terrible harassment and mental torture that I and members of my family had to suffer during the past many months. They have injured my self-respect, caused us great pain and suffering.

We have lost face in society. As a result, I am forced to live here in London, away from all my friends and family.

But not your business as a music director for films? There are many producers still coming to you in London and signing you on.

God has been kind to me. Yes, I am working on over 27 films right now. It also shows how much faith the common people have in me. The fact that they still choose to sign me on is a reflection of their confidence, their trust.

Do you know that sitting here, I have won so many awards for my work? Popular awards. Jury awards. The Screen Award and the Movie Magazine Award for Pardes. The International Film Award for Sirf Tum.

The awards are fine but what is more important is the fact that people are still voting for me. They do not see me as a criminal, as someone who has done something wrong.

They trust me. They believe in me. That is my actual award. The trust and faith that people have reposed in me despite all my travails. Despite all the terrible charges made against me.

I am also, frankly, grateful to the Government of India. I know very well that if they wanted, they could have made my life out here in London very difficult. But they did not do that. They left me alone and allowed me to fight the issue out in the courts and get a judgement that has now totally vindicated me.

Believe me, this is no small thing. I know the power of a government. They could have used diplomatic pressure to harass me. But they did not.

That is why I am so proud of being an Indian. We respect our democratic institutions. And this is not a political statement. This is the pure and simple truth as I see it.

Then whom are you fighting against? The Bombay Police only?

Not even the Bombay Police, quite honestly. There is nothing wrong with the whole force. There are some bad apples, that's all. These bad apples spoil the entire basket. That is what I am saying. Some of the investigating officers have deliberately and vindictively wronged me and my whole battle is against them.

It is not against the Government of India. It is not against the Bombay Police. It is against these bad elements who used this as an opportunity to harass and intimidate an innocent man.

Have you read the judgement of the court? It says, "The cumulative effect of all these circumstances causes us to infer that the accusation of murder and conspiracy made against this applicant (that is, me) is not made in good faith and in the interests of justice."

What is more important, the Honorable Justices go on to conclude that, "We are also satisfied that it would not be fair and would be unjust to return the applicant because the appearance of misbehaviour by the police in pursuing their inquiries and the significant risk that the activities surrounding that misbehaviour have so tainted the evidence as to render a fair trial impossible."

There can be no stronger words to support my contention that injustice has been done to me and my family.

What is your next move?

To further reaffirm my innocence. To show the world that I am innocent man and a few police officers cannot destroy my reputation. The most important thing for anyone is his honour.

We all spend our lifetime defending our honour because without honour, a man is nothing. That is my battle. To save my honour.

I have done nothing wrong and, now, by God's grace, even the courts here have supported me.

That is why I am so happy and I take this opportunity to not only thank all those who have trusted me and stood by me during these difficult months but also others who have extended me their hand of support, knowing that I have been wronged.

Apart from this quest for justice, what keeps you busy in London?

My music. I have always seen myself as a music director and my music has kept me going even during these difficult days. It is my link with the people of India.