Saif Ali Khan case shows the culture of misogyny thrives

Police probes need to be scrutinised, but not based on idle gossip or to vilify women

- Barkha Dutt

Much of the breathless media coverage and social media speculation around the stabbing of movie star Saif Ali Khan at his own home invokes the worst sort of deja vu. It takes you right back to the relentless spectacle that was created by our news channels and conspiracy theorists when Sushant Singh Rajput died. And it reveals, yet again, how every sordid mystery or act of crime gives the mob the perfect excuse to hunt down a woman to hang on the cross of public opinion.

If it was Rhea Chakraborty then who was smeared; it's Kareena Kapoor Khan now who is being character assassinated. Based on nothing but idle gossip and ridiculous rumours, Kapoor has been targeted for somehow falling short of being the good wife. First, the TV networks (and social media trolls) made a meal of an Instagram reel that appeared to suggest that she had been out earlier that night with friends.

And so? It's not clear what that proves one way or the other. And yet the innocuous video that captures a group of women having a nice evening with each other, has been used as fodder for attack, criticism, gossip and the most god-awful sort of rumour-mongering about Kareena Kapoor Khan.