It was just an argument that lasted for a minute at a traffic signal. I needed to take a right turn but the signal only allowed me to go straight, so I decided I’d take a U-turn and go my way. At the junction where I was meant to take left, a girl walked in front of me and told me to stop because it was a red signal. I told her the red was for the rest, that the junction had a free left and so I was going to go my way. She began arguing with me, moving towards me. She was irritating me, so I asked her what she was going to do, and asked her to tell whoever she wanted to. That was when she took my picture. When I asked the people with her why she had taken my pictures, they told me they’d be deleted. By that time, the signal had cleared and I was holding up traffic so I left.
Back home, I told my mother what had transpired. Later that night, a relative called and started yelling at me for teasing girls. When I checked the internet, the girl had shared the post and it had already gotten 25,000 shares. We decided we’d go to the police the next day but before that could happen, I was told that constables had surrounded my area and there was an arrest warrant in my name. When I finally spoke to the police and explained my story, they asked me to come to the station. I was questioned the whole day and the media was all over the story. The next day, I was labeled ‘Delhi ka Darinda’ by them and they had not even spoken to me. I came out with my story on her post. Luckily, a man came forward to be my only eyewitness since he was parked behind me. Things changed.
I don’t understand it. Isn’t it the media’s responsibility to do their research and cover both sides of the story when they report? They made me the bad guy and later they made me the victim. After, twelve hearings, and two summons she came for the 13th hearing. The next hearing is in July. Today, my entire life is going into fighting the court case.
I am from a middle-class family. I have simple dreams. I want a job, I want a family, and I want to keep my parents happy. That is all. Instead, any job that was offered to me was either for very little pay or I could not stand to work there for too long since everyone only spoke about the case. My parents don’t want to discuss marriage proposals because of the case and because I am not earning much.
I have realised that the media has the power to change people’s mind and I became the victim of a media trial. I hope my story is a lesson to media houses to do their research, and speak to both parties before they carry any story. Also, do not believe everything that you read on the internet.
Sarvjeet Singh Bedi
Being You © 2019
