All posts tagged: jessica lal murder case

No One Killed Jessica turns 15… Out of prison, convict now behind popular whisky brand | Bollywood News

No One Killed Jessica turns 15… Out of prison, convict now behind popular whisky brand | Bollywood News

Some incidents shake the very core of the nation and force people to take to the streets, demanding fairness from a system that is often twisted and manipulated at the whim of those in power. One such case was the murder of Jessica Lal, who was shot dead by the son of an influential politician. Justice for her was delayed — until nationwide protests made it impossible to deny. Her case later became the subject of Rajkumar Gupta’s unforgettable crime drama No One Killed Jessica, a film that continues to remain relevant even 14 years after its release. But what actually happened on that fateful night in 1999? Who killed Jessica? Where is he now? And why does the case still matter in upholding India’s democratic values? Let’s take a look. The real-life story of Jessica Lal’s murder On April 29, 1999, Jessica Lal, who was 34 at the time, was among several models serving drinks as celebrity barmaids at a private party at Delhi socialite Bina Ramani’s high-end restaurant Tamarind Court, overlooking the Qutub …

Being Ajay Katara: How a high-profile murder changed the life of its prime witness | Long Reads News

Being Ajay Katara: How a high-profile murder changed the life of its prime witness | Long Reads News

Ajay Katara only has to close his eyes to remember that night from 22 years ago. A little past midnight, on February 17, 2002, the fog hung low as his scooter went down the largely deserted stretch of Hapur Road that connects Ghaziabad to Delhi. He was on his way home to Shahdara after attending a friend’s daughter’s birthday party in Govindpuram, near Ghaziabad. Merely 2 km from his friend’s house, near the Hapur toll booth, an SUV hit his scooter from behind, throwing him to the ground. It was a minor hit, but it left Ajay shaken and angry. He dusted himself off and walked up to the driver’s side of the SUV, itching for a fight. What he saw next would alter his life forever. In the passenger seat was a man in a red kurta and a white stole. Hours later, the man, 23-year-old Nitish Katara, would end up dead. And Ajay would go on to become a prime witness in the murder case. Ajay says the attempts on his life and …