Shweta Prasad Basu who spent two months in a rescue home after her alleged involvement in a prostitution racket is now out, and in her home in Mumbai. For the first time, she breaks her silence on what happened that night and the sixty days that followed…
When did you get back home?
I came home on Friday. I’ve no complaints against anyone except the journalist who during my hour of crisis made up a statement attributed to me. That statement was circulated everywhere. I had no idea about it as I had no access to newspapers or websites for two months. It’s only now that I came to know of this.
You never made that statement that was picked up by every paper and website and television channel?
No I never made that statement. I was in custody. I wasn’t allowed to speak to my mother and father, then how would I speak to the media? Whoever made up that statement damaged my reputation by saying that all doors were closed on me—no such thing has happened and the film industry has always been very warm and welcoming to me—and that “people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money.” These are outrageous lies that I never uttered.
We’re in the process of tracking down the journalist and the newspaper where these fake statements originated. We are taking very strong legal action against them. I need to set this falsification right before I move on.
What kind of a journalist would make up something?
We as a nation enjoy watching suffering. We are sadistic people. I want to ask the journalist who made up this statement: how much do you know about me and my family? I’ve friends in the film industry. I am well-connected. I’ve been auditioning for roles even when this (the arrest) happened. I’ve spent three-and-half-years of my life making a documentary on Hindustani classical music. I turned down roles after my first Tamil film as a leading lady was a hit because I wanted to focus on my documentary. Now that it’s in post-production I want to concentrate on my acting. So I want to know which doors were being closed? Such shallow emotions and vocabulary! Any sane person would have seen it’s made up. I can’t understand how it was used everywhere as my statement.
But a major section of the media supported you in a graceful way?
Yes, I came across largely unscathed. I am at home and back at work. I don’t wish to go too deep into what happened, as it is a legal matter. But I am completely unaffected by the entire episode. I now see how futile and unnecessary it was. I am glad to be alive and kicking and raring to go. Life looks beautiful and hopeful.
Any regrets?
The media should have waited for me to come out before making up its mind whether I was guilty or not. I should’ve been given the right to defend myself. When I was in there I was not allowed to look at television or read papers. It’s now when I come out that I see what a media circus my life was made into.
Why were you caught in this situation?
(Pauses, sighs and answers) I hadn’t been called to Hyderabad by any agent for commercial sex. I had gone to there to attend an awards ceremony. Call it fate or whatever, I missed my flight back in the morning. My air ticket and stay were done by the organisers of the awards function. I still have the ticket. I’ve been told that the agent has been arrested. The case is being investigated. I am a victim in the whole situation. There was a raid… I am not denying the incident. But the facts are not what they’ve been made out to be.
Were you questioned harshly by the police?
No, but when I was detained for interrogation the police asked me the names of Tollywood actresses (allegedly involved in prostitution rackets). I didn’t even know many of their names. Why should I make comments on other actresses? Shame on the people who said I was forced to do certain things by my family to afford a lifestyle.
Were you treated well after arrest?
Absolutely. I was at the rescue home. It is a hostel for kids who are victims of human trafficking, etc. I volunteered as a teacher there and taught the kids Hindi, English and Hindustani classical music. I used my two months in there very productively. I was not depressed at all. Why should I be? I knew the truth. While I was in there I realized how lucky I was to have a family to support me. My parents have always wanted me to pursue a dignified career. After I did Iqbal, my parents made me pursue my studies. I make documentaries. I attend film festivals. I don’t have time to sit at cafes taking selfies. I’ve dedicated my life to cinema and acting. I am not going to let one incident spoil my life.
How did your parents take all this?
While I was in the rescue home my grandfather passed away. That’s one loss I’ll have to live with all my life. I couldn’t even be at the last rituals. I’ll have to live with the guilt. Thanks to the reports in the media my grandfather went thinking I had actually made those awfully wrong statements. Then my mother was running in and out of courts with petition after petition. She was confused. I wasn’t even allowed to call her. Later, I was allowed one call a week when she’d only be crying and reassuring me.
You are very strong girl.
I don’t think I’ve the luxury of being weak. Being strong is my only option. I’ve the truth on my side. And I’ve my parents and a lot of supportive friends.
Many filmmakers spoke up for you. Hansal Mehta wants to work with you?
I haven’t yet got a call from him. I’d like to audition for Hansal Mehta and get the role only if I am suitable for it. I don’t want a role out of sympathy. I don’t want people to think I am cashing in on the controversy.
Who would doubt your talents? You won a National award at 10!
People forget very easily. It’s only during tough times that you get to know who your friends are. There are many who turned their backs on my family. Many friends wouldn’t take my mother’s calls. If something had happened to my parents who would’ve taken responsibility? I am grateful to those who have supported us. As for those who didn’t support us, that’s life. It’s time to move on.
What plans now?
I am an actress. And I will always remain one. Right now, I have just returned to the post-production of my documentary on Hindustani classical music. Life has moved forward from exactly from where I left off.

Thiruvananthapuram: The ‘Kiss of love’ protest held in Kochi on Sunday has sparked a spat between CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala over the handling of the situation by police.

While Vijayan accused the government of having adopted “double standards” to deal with “unusual protest”, Chennithala said there was no lapse on the part of police in handling the situation at Marine Drive in Kochi.

“Ours is a country where the right to protest is allowed as a democratic means… When some form of protest is out of the ordinary, there will be people who support it and oppose it,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.

Criticising the way police had handled the situation, the CPI(M) leader said the government had adopted “double standards” against both sympathisers and opponents of the protest.

“The attack by those who came to stop the ‘kiss of love’ had actually created unruly scenes at Marine Drive. Police used pepper spray and caned the gathering repeatedly. Police in fact protected those who came to oppose the protest wielding weapons and raising hatred slogans,” Vijayan said.

No “moral police” who are out to disturb peaceful life of people should be allowed to have their way, he said.

Instead, police had been used to protect those who sought to destroy peace, which is dangerous and shameful for a state like Kerala, he added.

Responding to his critics, Chennithala said there was no lapse on the part of police as they had acted just as they would have in any situation where there had been a huge gathering of people.

Pithoragarh: Border trade worth over Rs 3 crore took place between India and China this year through Lipulekh pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, according to final figures released by Dharchula sub-division of the district on Monday.

Indian traders imported goods worth Rs 2,14,71707 from Taklakot Mart in Chinese territory of Tibet while they sold goods worth Rs 19,12,0515 to their Tibetan clients.

“The imported goods include Pashmina wool, raw Tibetan wool jackets, shoes, and animal skin, besides several medicinal herbs while exported items include tobacco, sugar candy, jaggery (Gur) and items of daily use,” said Pramod Kumar, designated trade officer and SDM of Dharchula.

According to the official, a total of 273 persons, including 89 traders and their helpers had gone to Taklakot mart in western Tibet to transact business

Delhi appears to be heading for fresh polls with Bharatiya Janata Party, the single largest party, giving clear indication of not forming a minority government in the national capital and prefer election.

Top sources in BJP said the party has already taken “an in principle” decision of not taking power and top leadership has already conveyed to the city unit to make preparations for polls soon.

“The party has decided to decline any offer of government formation. We will prefer going to polls,” a top Delhi BJP leader said.

The political situation in the national capital was discussed at a meeting of top BJP leaders on Sunday evening where it was dominant view that the party should go for polls.

Government sources said the Lt Governor, who is holding talks with all three parties BJP, Congress and AAP to explore government formation, will take a final decision on the political situation by this evening.

The last date of filing of nominations for bypolls in three assembly constituencies in Delhi is November 5 and if there was no possibility of government formation, then LG may recommend dissolution of Delhi assembly “at the earliest” so as to avoid the bypolls, they said.

BJP sources said RSS has also conveyed its view that BJP should not form government adopting any “unfair means“.

Earlier in the day, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay called on Jung and the party described it as as an “informal” meeting.

Mr. Upadhyay is understood to have conveyed BJP’s view on the political political situation to Jung.

Meanwhile, BJP central leadership has imposed a gag order on party leaders asking them not to speak to the media without authorization.

The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park popularly known as Darjeeling Zoo has been selected for the prestigious “The Earth Heroes” Award 2014.

The Zoo Director Dr Alankar Jha, who has left for New Delhi to receive the award, told reporters yesterday that the Darjeeling Zoo has become the first zoo in India to be selected for the international award beating off competition from over 300 zoos worldwide.

The Earth Heroes award is annually awarded by the Royal Bank of Scotland in collaboration with the British government.

Darjeeling Zoo was established in 1958 and is one of the largest high altitude zoos in the country at an elevation of 7,000 ft.

It has played a key and proactive role in promoting conservation and preservation of Himalayan fauna and flora and specializes in breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, Dr Jha said.

The Darjeeling Zoo is one of the very few places that has successfully bred some of the rarest animals in the world in captivity including the majestic Snow Leopards, the Tibetan Wolf and the Red Pandas, the Director said.

The park is named after Padmaja Naidu (1900-1975), former Governor of West Bengal and daughter of national leader and poet Sarojini Naidu. The zoo serves as the central hub for Central Zoo Authority of India’s Red Panda program and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The award will be given in the capital on November 4.

New Delhi: Customers preferred to purchase new products on the internet from e-commerce giant Flipkart, followed by eBay India, HomeShop 18, Amazon India, Snapdeal and Shopclues, according to a survey by brand and customer management firm Akosha.

“When it came to Diwali shopping, 39 per cent respondents said that Flipkart was one of their top choices followed by eBay India (23 per cent) and Amazon India (12.21 per cent) among others,” Akosha said in a release.

Less than 10 per cent named Snapdeal and Shopclues for shopping online during Diwali, as per findings of the survey.

When it comes to regular online purchases, around 45 per cent respondents said they shopped from Flipkart, followed by Snapdeal (17 per cent), eBay India (15.89 per cent) and Homeshop18 (9.8 per cent), among others. These findings were compiled from the survey conducted with a sample size of 2,000 respondents and insights from Akosha’s own internal database, the report said.

“Our constant endeavour is to ensure happy customers by providing them with innovative products, some of which are specially created and developed for them. We offer unbeatable deals and gamut of products across our various categories,” HomeShop18 founder and CEO Sundeep Malhotra said in response to the findings.

No other firm commented on the survey.

The survey also found that almost 40 per cent consumers spend between Rs. 500 to Rs. 2,000 for online purchases with over more than 20 per cent spending above Rs. 5,000.

Pricing, customer service and return policy are three major parameters that influence buying decisions of the customers online, Akosha said.

“Both Flipkart and Snapdeal are known to render smooth and seamless check out and payment facilities. Flipkart also scores on good quality packaging and on time delivery,” the report said.

Flipkart was also ahead in terms of brand recall amongst consumers.

As per the survey, when it came to buying electronic appliances, consumers preferred Flipkart and eBay India but Amazon India was the top choice for buying books. Almost 50 per cent of the respondents said that they mostly bought consumer electronics and mobile phones on shopping websites.

“It is interesting to note that before making purchase, people usually read the reviews of the e-commerce websites to know the experience of the customers who had already shopped there before. Over 78 per cent percent of the consumers checked the reviews of the e-commerce websites before shopping,” the report said.

Snapdeal and Amazon India emerged as brands providing value for money with best deals and attractive prices, it noted.