Original subtitles

Gauri!

What are you doing? How much time will you take? Come on.

It's getting late.

Coming.

Hurry up.

Come, come. We have to leave quickly.

What's wrong? Is everything all right?

We reached there with the paramedics.

The victim was on the bed covered in blood.

The knife was in his daughter's hand.

Why was she standing like that?

She might have been scared or in shock.

She was protecting her father.

Where was her mother at that point?

As per the CCTV footage, she was near the house.

She was seen on the pavement.

She reached the hospital later.

An hour and a half later,

Anu Chandra reached the hospital.

And when she reached the hospital, she said something to Bikram.

She said...

Bikram, I'm sorry...

"I'm sorry."

What do you think? Why did she say "I'm sorry" to Bikram?

Objection.

ACP Salian couldn't have known my client's mental state.

He isn't a psychiatrist.

Sustained.

That night, when Bikram Chandra was being taken to the hospital,

he said something.

Can you tell the honourable court what Bikram said that night?

He said, "Moksh."

Moksh?

Yes.

I won't ask your opinion on this matter

because it's quite clear.

Thank you.

That night, who made the call to emergency services?

Anu Chandra did.

And after that, she came to the hospital and said, "I'm sorry"?

Yes.

All right. Let's move on.

That day, Bikram Chandra stopped somewhere on his way home.

Is that true?

-Yes. -Where?

-Outside Fiona College. -At 6:37 p.m...

Nikhat...

A narcotics team clicked a photograph.

In this, a drug peddler... a dealer is taking money from someone.

Yes.

Can you tell the court who is the man giving money?

It's Bikram Chandra.

Your Honour...

This drug dealer, what kind of drugs does he sell?

You're a policeman, you'd know.

-Marijuana, cannabis and other illegal-- -He's just flinging mud.

I agree. Mishraji, how is this related to the case?

Your Honour, I...

I'm simply trying to tell the court that Bikram Chandra...

wasn't as saintly as he is being portrayed.

Statistics tell us that

people who use drugs are more likely

to be perpetrators of domestic or emotional abuse.

I just wanted to say that. Thank you, Salian sahib.

Your Honour, I would like to call Mrs. Vijaya Chandra to the stand.

The accusation of Bikram being a drug user--

It's baseless.

-It is baseless. -All right.

Then what about these photographs?

Isn't this Bikram?

It is Bikram.

And he is buying something from this drug dealer.

Yes.

What drugs is he buying?

It's not drugs. It's CBD oil.

Would you like to tell the court why he was buying it?

For his brother, Dhruv.

He has Down Syndrome.

He's always unwell.

We consulted many doctors and tried many medicines as well.

But only this oil brings him relief.

It is still not allowed as a medicine in India.

That's why we have to buy it from a drug dealer.

He was buying it only for his sick brother.

Yes.

Thank you, Mrs. Chandra.

We walked into that trap.

When you throw muck, some of it will land on you as well.

You knew about this?

May the Lord bless everyone,

but may he begin with me.

Nikhatji, please go meet Anuji. I'm just coming.

Oh, brother, my 50-50, tell me what kind of character is your Pradhan?

You idiot, you don't know Pradhan.

He is a very big player.

Please open it. It's urgent.

Yes, yes, one minute, Namdev told me

that, before the confession, Pradhan had spoken to you.

-Yes. -What did you talk about?

Tell me in detail.

Inspector Pradhan, that day at the police station

when Anu Chandra was charged with attempted murder,

what was her demeanour, her body language like?

She was completely covered in blood

and desperate to take off and throw away her clothes.

Thank you.

Pradhanji, at what time was the confession recorded?

At 12:38 a.m. on the night of the crime.

That night, Anu Chandra's daughter, Rhea Chandra, was brought to the police station, right?

Yes.

What time did you hand over custody of the child to CWC?

12:30 a.m.

Between these times, did mother and daughter meet each other?

Did mother and daughter meet in the police station?

Yes, one of the constables made a mistake.

Actually, Rhea was supposed to be taken through the back door

and that way passes by the lock-up cell. That's it.

Did you also tell Anu that her daughter is also a suspect

when she wasn't?

No. Of course not.

You didn't tell Anu that, if she makes a confession,

you'd remove her daughter's name from the list of suspects?

That's not what happened.

Amazing. I mean, a mother is made to see her daughter in the lock-up.

She isn't in the right state of mind, is distressed

and then made helpless to such an extent that she gives a confession,

that too without a lawyer.

That's quite a coincidence, Pradhanji.

Your Honour, it was her decision.

So, it was her decision, and you took the confession

without even considering that there could be another aspect to the truth?

A distressed and petrified woman could also be an abuse victim.

I mean... we can certainly hope so from an experienced police officer like you.

We consider each possibility, including abuse.

That's why I feel--

Then you would know that an abuse victim, who is distressed and scared,

has no understanding of right and wrong.

Lawyer sahib, I am very familiar with abuse victims.

And I can tell you with certainty that Anu Chandra isn't an abuse victim.

The court is adjourned for today.

The next hearing will be in two weeks.

So, Anuradha Chandra,

tell us what happened.

I took a knife from the kitchen.

I went back to the room.

I stood by the door for some time.

He called out to me.

What did you want to do with the knife?

I stabbed him.

Can you confirm to the court

that, while giving this statement, she was in full possession of her senses?

Yes. Yes.

This... doesn't it seem a bit strange

that both you and your husband are in the same police station?

Both of us working on the same case seems even stranger.

So then, sometimes there would also be disagreements between you two.

When it comes to cases,

we only give importance to facts

and only consider them to reach any conclusions.

So, when Anu's confession was going on, you were there?

Yes, I was the one taking Anu Chandra's confession.

Oh... so when Anu saw her child from the lock-up,

you were there then too?

Yes.

Then what happened?

When she saw her child, Anuradha Chandra became very emotional.

Then? After that?

SI Pradhanji asked me

to check on Rhea Chandra, if she is okay or not.

So, you left Anu Chandra alone with SI Pradhan

and went outside to check on the child.

I was following orders.

And when you returned after following orders,

by then Anu Chandra had decided to confess, that too without a lawyer.

Yes.

That's how it happened.

Thank you, Gauriji.

What was that? Gauri, I'm asking you something...

Answer me!

I didn't wear this uniform so I could lie.

Do you have any idea how many criminals are brought into court

who, till today, have never even smelt the air of prison?

They lie, terrify, threaten, bribe, and the court...

-lets them walk free. -What if she is innocent? What then?

Will you lie and destroy her life?

I am giving them a reply in their own language.

I am beating them at their own game.

This system exists so that we can put criminals in their right place!

Pradhan!

The truth exists somewhere between right and wrong.

But the system keeps demanding answers

so that the work keeps continuing.

That's why, by the time we reach an outcome,

the truth also stumbles.

Sorry, sir, but if we work with no regard for the system,

we will end up getting lost

and never reach an outcome.

Sir.

You did the right thing.

Sir, what should we do about the CCTV footage?

How can they just present a new witness like this, Madhavji?

Who knows what she'll say?

She will say what the prosecution wants her to.

We should have applied for an adjournment.

Even if we did and we get some time, what difference does it make?

Her statement won't change.

So, Madhavji...

why don't we do what defence lawyers generally do less of?

I see. You mean stop answering questions and start asking them?

Absolutely.

Come on.

Mukta tai.

I needed some information.

Look, don't refuse and disgrace the warden community.

Yes.

About whom?

Ishani Nath.

Yes.

You and Anu Chandra were in the same prison?

Yes.

Do you know her well?

Quite. I was the kitchen in-charge, and she was my assistant.

Could you tell us something about her mental state?

Very emotional. She's very needy.

Always wanting attention.

Did she ever talk to you about Bikram Chandra?

Yes.

What did she say?

That Bikram used to take good care of her.

Did she ever say anything about Bikram

hurting or abusing her?

No.

After listening to her, what did you think? Why did she kill Bikram?

I don't know. Maybe she needed more attention.

Maybe Bikram wasn't enough for her.

That's probably why she had an affair.

Ishaniji, can you tell the court what crime you were jailed for?

Murder.

Of your respected father?

Yes.

So... for how long have you been under trial?

Two years.

And, in these two years, how many times have you made a plea for bail?

Don't remember. I've lost count.

But you are out on bail now, aren't you?

Yes.

She recently got bail, Your Honour.

Yes.

Your Honour, it's a strange coincidence.

That when she decided to give testimony for the state,

she was released on bail as well.

I... I don't think so.

Yes, me too. I was just wondering.

All right.

I have one more question. You...

Is your lawyer present in court at this moment?

Could you tell us the name?

Mandira Mathur.

Thank you.

Court is adjourned.

Who initiated sex that night?

I did.

How?

I touched him.

So, you aroused your husband,

but if we believe your lawyers, then...

you were extremely scared.

So, can a terrified woman...

touch her husband and arouse him?

Fine.

After that, you went downstairs.

There were some knives kept in the kitchen.

Five?

Which one did you choose? This one? No.

Was it this one? No.

Or was it this one? No.

You chose...

this one.

You chose this one.

The biggest of the lot.

It's this one, right?

Anu, what were you thinking at this moment?

Anu...

I didn't think anything.

All right.

After stabbing your husband, you went downstairs again.

What did you do after going downstairs?

I wore the jacket.

Your husband was dying upstairs, and you were wearing a jacket downstairs.

Why?

I was in a nightgown, so...

Oh... but you weren't in your senses!

I don't know...

What don't you know?

By the way, this line, they gave it to you, didn't they?

Anyone asks something, says something, say, "I don't know."

If you were so scared, you could have gone to the police, right?

You could have gone to your father's house.

You could even have gone to your lover's house.

What would I say to him?

"What would I say to him?"

You couldn't understand what you would say to him,

so you killed your husband?

And after you killed him, you went out for an hour and a half, for a stroll.

And then you reached the hospital to check if Bikram Chandra was dead or not.

I didn't want him to die.

What kind of woman are you, Anu Chandra?

Isn't it true that...

a few hours before stabbing your husband,

you called the insurance company?

Did you call them?

Nodding your head won't do. Answer me.

This is being recorded. Please.

-Did you call them? -Yes.

You were in enough of your senses to call the insurance company to find out

that, if your husband dies, how much money you would get.

No, no, I...

-I... -What kind of woman are you?

-The prosecution rests its case. -I...

Request permission to recall Rhea Chandra for cross-examination.

I object, Your Honour.

Rhea is a child. Why is she being summoned again and again?

Mr. Prabhu, your objection is noted, but I will allow it this time.

Ms. Hussain, this is the last time.

Please remember that she is a child.

Yes, Your Honour.

Rhea, did you meet your mom that day at the police station?

Yes.

At that time, were ASI Gauri and SI Pradhan present with her?

Yes.

Did your mom try to say anything to you?

-Leave her! -Rhea...

I didn't want to talk to her.

Why not?

She killed my father.

But he was so nice to her.

Rhea, you can't say this with complete certainty.

You weren't with them all the time.

For instance, you don't know what happened between them in their bedroom.

But I did know!

What did you know?

That he said nice things to her in the bedroom.

Like "I love you"?

Yes.

Rhea, you think so, but you don't know it for sure.

You want it to be true, and that's why you believe it's the truth.

-No, it's not like that! Dad loved my mom! -No, you believed it, perhaps, but--

I used to hear them!

Hear them?

-How did you do hear them? -I object, Your Honour!

She is a child, not some criminal.

-Ms. Hussain, gently! -Yes, Your Honour.

How did you hear them, Rhea?

When I couldn't sleep, I used to sit on the stairs.

Did you ever hear anything else?

-Yes. -What?

Like what?

-He said it softly. -Softly?

I... I object, Your Honour.

-Rhea, what else did you hear? -Mr. Prabhu, please sit down.

-What is she trying... Where is this going? -Ms. Hussain...

-You have to stop... -Rhea, don't pay attention to them.

-Look at me. -Ms. Hussain!

-What else did you hear? -"Be a bitch."

Rhea, no!

Rhea, Rhea, don't.

-Please. Rhea, there's no need to say-- -Rhea, say it once again!

"Be a bitch!"

"Be a bitch"?

-Your Honour... -Rhea...

-She has just led the witness. -Order.

Order to be maintained!

Rhea, please get back to the stand.

Please take the child away.

Please. Rhea, go back to the stand.

Take the child away!

-I love you. I love you. -What's happening, Your Honour?

-It's circus in here. -Mr. Prabhu!

Court will take a short recess.

What Rhea said in the court, what did it mean?

What does "be a bitch" mean?

Whenever new information comes out, you become silent.

-Where is Nikhat? -I asked her not to come.

I don't want to talk about this, Madhavji.

No, but I want to. I want to know what happened.

What was going on in your mind, what was going on in Bikram's mind.

Why did you call the insurance company? Will you tell me?

The thing is, Anuji,

a case is not just fought by the lawyer.

It's also fought by the client.

You will also have to fight.

For your own sake, for your children's sake.

-Come on... -Madhavji, what did she say?

Nothing. It's up to her now.

-Madhav! -Yes.

You go ahead. I'm coming. Tell me, sir.

-Come quickly. -Yes.

This contains the CCTV footage of that night. Check it out.

There's something you can use.

Use?

Come, come this way.

Come on.

Your Honour...

Defence?

You may proceed.

Yes, Your Honour.

Anu, you repeatedly say...

that Bikram loved you very much.

Yes.

How did you know?

He used to take care of me.

He made me feel like the most...

important person in this world.

But then, it's like something would suddenly happen to him.

He'd get upset about something I did or said.

Hey, Ketan bhai! Give me that laptop.

One second. Look at the market tomorrow. Do it.

Oh... How does this open...

Is it this one?

I always tried to do things the way he wanted them done.

I kept thinking about what I should do to make him stay happy.

It was...

it was very hard to live up to his expectations.

I knew a little about what was happening,

what he was doing.

But when I saw him with Rhea,

I just couldn't understand

how he was hiding everything!

Then I'd think that maybe I'm the one who's going crazy!

Anu, do you feel that Bikram wanted you to go crazy?

Objection, Your Honour.

The defence is leading the suspect.

Sustained.

This...

What is it? She's throwing something into the dustbin. What is it?

-Look. -Rewind it a little.

-Zoom in a little. -You also...

Anu, according to you, what was Bikram trying to do?

I don't know actually.

But he used to keep telling me that I'm sick,

that my condition is getting worse.

Then he would also say, "Don't worry.

"We're there. We'll take care of you."

"We" meaning?

Him and Rhea.

Objection, Your Honour!

Anu was sick. Bikram was looking after her.

He was taking care of her.

This is maybe... I think I know what this is.

We use it at the parlour. It's like a cream.

Anu, while all this was happening to you,

why didn't you ever say anything to anyone?

Sorry.

Your Honour.

I just need a few seconds to talk to my colleague.

-Make it quick. -Yes, Your Honour.

Defence?

-This is not your private office. -Yes, Your Honour. Just one second.

-Defence, please. -I'm sorry, Your Honour.

Anu, that night, what did you take when you left the house?

Objection, Your Honour.

If you are introducing new evidence, submit it first.

Overruled.

Anu, at that time, what did you take from the house before leaving?

Nothing.

It's clearly visible in the CCTV footage

that you were holding something in your hand. What was it?

Your Honour, this is not mentioned anywhere in the records.

Please! What is she doing?

Overruled. Please continue.

Yes, Your Honour.

You were holding something in your hand

that you threw in a dustbin. What was it?

Please tell the court.

Anu, say what it was!

Petroleum jelly.

Was it yours?

No.

It was Bikram's?

Anu, that night, you had said in your statement

that Bikram sent you downstairs to get water.

He didn't send you to get water, right?

No.

Then why did he send you?

Can I please take a break?

You called the life insurance company that night.

What did you want to know?

Why did you call them?

I wanted to know what Rhea would get if I was gone.

What do you mean "if you were gone"?

If I was dead.

Why were you thinking of dying?

Because I couldn't bear it anymore.

-What couldn't you bear? -What he was doing to me!

Anu, what was he doing to you?

Anu, what was Bikram doing to you?

Anu, what does "be a bitch" mean?

What does "be a bitch" mean?

Anu, are you listening to me?

What does "be a bitch" mean?

He was raping me!

He was having anal sex with me forcefully!

Objection, Your Honour! She is changing her statement.

-She is changing her story again and again. -Overruled.

Anu, didn't you two have normal sex?

Not for a few years.

How did it make you feel?

It used to hurt me.

I felt as if he hated me.

Like I was... I was worthless.

Anu, if I may ask...

why did you initiate sex that night?

I was trying to calm him down.

Was Bikram angry?

He was very angry.

What happened then?

Anu, I promise you...

you don't have to feel ashamed.

-I can't. -Yes, you can.

Tell the court, Anu, that that night, when you returned to your bedroom

what happened to you.

I can't.

Yes, you can.

You can and you have to.

I laid on the bed.

I went on my knees,

and I closed my eyes.

And he...

From behind, he just got on top of me.

Is that what "be a bitch" means?

What happened then?

I turned around, and I saw that his eyes were closed.

I took the knife from under the pillow and...

I pointed it towards myself. I...

I just wanted to fall onto it.

But I couldn't do it.

My child was inside me.

Then something just snapped in me, and I...

I could see only one way.

What way?

I turned the knife away from myself, pointed it towards Bikram and with force...

The knife...

pierced him so easily that I...

Anu, when...

When you were at the police station that night,

why did you want to remove your nightgown?

On the back of the nightgown,

there was blood, and I didn't want anyone to find out that he...

what he did to me.

Why not?

Because I...

I feel ashamed.

Your Honour, fear is a very strange thing.

It can make one lie.

It can also make one kill.

We have an example right in front of us.

Anu Chandra.

A married woman

conceives another man's child

in her womb.

She got scared.

But what did she do after getting scared?

She gets scared

and comes to her husband

and plunges a knife into his stomach.

And then she leaves him alone with their 12-year-old daughter and goes outside.

But consider this closely.

An hour and a half later, to confirm if he is actually dead,

she reaches the hospital.

The tragic fact of the matter is

that, a few days later, Bikram Chandra passed away.

He lost his life.

And nothing in this is a story. It's all facts.

No story, only facts.

But the story begins now.

What went on between the couple,

what their private life was like,

what they did or didn't do inside the four walls of their house.

No one knows, Your Honour.

Neither you nor me

nor anyone for that matter.

We heard Anu Chandra's story.

And her husband isn't alive to tell us his story.

She has killed him.

Behind this innocent face,

there is a merciless killer.

And this killer has to be given the harshest punishment by this court of law

because that is the law of our land.

And the responsibility of executing the law of the land lies with this court.

That's why, Your Honour, the prosecution requests the court

that Anu Chandra, according to section 302,

be given the death penalty. Then, perhaps...

the late Bikram Chandra

and his old mother will get justice.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Your Honour, the time has come

for our society to understand abuse.

It should understand that an abusive person

is just like the rest of us.

Just like us, he too has family and friends.

He can also be a well-respected man in our society.

Just like Bikram Chandra.

A very well-respected lawyer.

A good son, a good father, a good brother.

But unfortunately...

not a good husband.

That cunning man, very methodically

and with a great deal of cleverness,

rendered my client Anu Chandra's mental condition into such a weak state

that right or wrong, up or down,

she was left without the ability to gauge anything.

For so many years,

my client, Anu Chandra, never spoke a word about the abuse, Your Honour,

because she herself had no idea that she is a victim of abuse.

In fact, she kept believing

that the fault was with her.

And she lived with that shame

for all these years.

Most of the women who suffer abuse

do not speak up about it or against it

for one simple reason.

Shame.

For years, a man...

rapes his wife.

He forces her to have anal sex with him as a way of punishing her.

But the shame is felt by his wife.

Why?

Bikram Chandra took away Anu Chandra's dignity

and her self-confidence utterly and completely.

He kept her as his prisoner.

She reacted just as any other prisoner would.

She attacked her abuser.

But her actions were in defence

and not for herself.

But for the child inside of her.

I humbly request you, Your Honour,

that, before you announce your verdict,

please consider all these facts.

Thank you.

What they said about Bikram...

it's a lie, right?

Tell me, Mandira. She's lying, isn't she?

Vijji di...

I think you should go home to Dhruv.

Don't worry. We'll handle it.

Basically, they don't have any evidence left.

So, they accused him of rape.

But thankfully,

according to our law, marital rape isn't a crime.

The judge won't buy it.

And even if she does accept it, we will file an appeal.

I brought you in for this case because we thought

that Anu is guilty.

You are looking at this matter as a woman.

But I am a prosecuting lawyer,

and my responsibility is to make sure that the woman who killed her husband

receives the harshest, most severe punishment. That's it.

But, as a lawyer, don't you feel

that the laws aren't made only to protect men's rights?

I'll see you.

Most of the time, abuse doesn't happen in front of one's eyes.

The victims themselves don't understand what's happening to them

or that what's happening to them is wrong.

Despite how well-respected some people are in society,

in their personal lives, they could show extreme cruelty to their family.

For years, Bikram Chandra did just this...

to his wife, Anuradha Chandra.

This court...

takes the systematic abuse suffered by Anuradha Chandra into consideration.

But the court has also decided

that this was not self-defence.

Anuradha Chandra's actions became the reason for her husband's death.

That is why Anuradha Chandra is sentenced

according to IPC Section 304,

which is punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The court sentences Anuradha Chandra

to two years of imprisonment.

But during the case proceedings,

Anuradha Chandra has already spent 10 months in jail.

The court sends Anuradha Chandra

into judicial custody for a year and two months.

Thank you.

You shouldn't have gotten even this much punishment.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madhavji.

Thank you.

You endured so much.

And I never even tried to understand you.

I am sorry, dear.

I couldn't become a good father.

You should go to her place and get a makeover.

-Shouldn't he? -Absolutely.

Look, he looks so much older than me as well.

All right. Now that the two of you have told me, I will do it.

I will go to her parlour and get a pedicure, manicure, all the cures done.

-Threading as well. -Hello...

-Greet her. She is her mother. -Hello.

This is Ratna from Patna.

-I'll be back. -Yes, of course.

-Okay, listen to me. -Yes.

Aren't you going to say anything?

Mother, we won the case.

I want to divorce him.

Will you fight my case?

Of course, Mother.

At least now, take me out somewhere, please!

All right, but you go home now. Some other day.

-I have a lot of work today. -What work do you have now?

You keep making excuses all the time.

I have many other cases as well. You go home now.

-All right. I am leaving. -Go.

I've seen enough of your drama. I am going.

Excuses and more excuses. He never lets me go out.

Gauri, come. Let's go home.

What? Come on.

I am pregnant.

What...

Hey.

Gauri, when did you find out?

Okay, come. Let's go home and give Mother the good news. She'll be thrilled.

Just come!

I'm not coming with you, Harsh.

What?

We are not coming with you.

What nonsense are you saying?

You are my wife.

Both of you are mine.

"Wife"?

Yes, I am your wife.

But you don't understand what that means.

Sir.

Gauri.

You know, Lawyer sahib, I realised something today.

All of your progressive thoughts

are limited only to the court.

I am going back to Bharatpura.

Good thing you packed your clothes. It will save time.

-What did you say? -Yes, Suleiman is downstairs.

Do you not have any shame?

What is this?

Fenugreek leaves.

It's a bouquet. I got it for you. Here.

Take it. Yes.

And see, these are two flight tickets.

We are going to Goa in the evening to celebrate our honeymoon.

And listen, please forgive me.

You have had to bear with me. I have always hurt you and made you cry.

Please forgive me.

No...

Please don't.

But I haven't even packed your clothes!

Silly girl, who wears clothes in Goa!