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South Central 47: Dashwanth’s acquittal in rape-murder case, the role of RSS in South India
The podcast that delves into the stories shaping southern India.
In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Anisha Sheth are joined by TNM’s head of Breaking News Azeefa Fathima, TNM Executive Editor Sudipto Mondal, and historian V Geetha.
They first discuss the Supreme Court’s acquittal of Dashwanth, convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a minor girl in Tamil Nadu.
Azeefa says the Supreme Court cited violation of fair trial and inconsistencies in evidence and confession statement. Dhanya says, “It is a travesty that the entire evidence was discarded by the SC because the samples were collected late. Also what explains this delay?...Dashwanth’s own father had told TNM that his son committed the crime.”
Anisha says this is a serious indication of how shoddy the investigation was. “The onus on the prosecution increases when evidence is circumstantial. They must ensure their evidence is not weak,” she adds. Sudipto says, “While we’re not saying Dashwanth is guilty, the inconsistencies in the whole process are scary.”
In the second part of the discussion, the panel discusses the RSS’s centenary year and its presence in southern states. Geetha says the RSS shouldn’t be allowed to host religious festivals in government buildings. “We must understand what conditions have been created over the years that facilitate this,” she says.
She also says an RSS march is different from a religious event: “It is important to see how we build our resources in a way where we can differentiate between, say, an LGBTQ march and an RSS event in a public premise.”
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Audio Timecodes
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:35 - Diwali Offer
00:02:48 - Headlines
00:12:18 - Dashwanth Case
00:43:38 - RSS in south India
01:24:05 - Recommendations
References
Breakdown of the Dashwanth judgement: How the prosecution failed a 7-year-old
I bailed my son out for love: Dashwanth's father tells TNM it was his biggest mistake
No place for a national religion?
RSS is cancer, cure is Constitution: Priyank Kharge after ban remarks
CM Siddaramaiah asks Chief Secretary to study TN’s model on restricting RSS activities
Recommendations
V Geetha
Sudipto Mondal
Anisha Sheth
Dhanya Rajedran
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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali, written by Sukanya Shaji.
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