Sir — While the Bombay High Court has suspended the five-year jail term given to superstar Salman Khan, the fact remains that by convicting and sentencing the actor, a Sessions Court had earlier demonstrated that even influential people cannot escape the law. That judgement, though suspended, should now initiate a discourse on road safety and legal reforms. The reality of India is that our Indian roads are designed in a manner that facilitates chaotic driving and, consequently, accidents.
To top it all, a VIP culture, allowing the rich to believe they are above the law, has taken root. Consider, for instance, that despite the Supreme Court directing actor Sanjay Dutt to serve a five-year prison sentence, he has repeatedly stayed out of jail on various pretexts. Given this reality, one should not be surprised that Salman Khan, despite being convicted, has secured suspension of his sentence. He can now lead a normal life, unlike thousands of those who are rotting in prison because they cannot afford either surety or the services of good lawyers.