Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsA CRIME CUM LEGAL THRILLER FILLED WITH FLAWS...
Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on 13 August 2020
Unlike most of the crime thrillers and legal thrillers, this is a novel which is both a crime cum legal thriller. Speaking about the novel, let me say that the readers won't get bored while journeying through the novel. Usually, when a reader comes to know that a particular novel claims to be a legal thriller it is quite normal that he/she expects the same to be something which also gives a clear picture about the way the law is enforced and the functioning of the Courts. But as a lawyer who witnesses the daily business of the Trial Courts on the civil and criminal sides, I must say that the author has committed certain serious errors that not only give a wrong picture about the enforcement of the law to readers who are not familiar about the enforcement of the criminal laws in India but also have influenced the plot of the novel in a considerable way such as:-
a) Firstly, in a criminal case which is instituted by the police, the complainant would be the "State". Though the complainant in this novel is the relative of the victims who is represented by the State, the cause-title ought to be "State of Maharashtra v. Prem Bedi". But in this novel the cause title of the case was "Prem Bedi v. State of Maharashtra" which happens only at the appellate stage if the Accused is aggrieved with the verdict of the Trial Court and appeals to a Higher Court;
b) Secondly, a Trial in a criminal case, as per the Code of Criminal Procedure ("Code"), kick-starts against the Accused only when the police files a final report and all the relevant documents which discloses the commission of offence(s). Once the Court accepts the report, frames the charge(s) and kick-starts the trial, the Police is barred by the Code from conducting any further investigation. But in this novel it was disappointing to note that a forensic investigation happening during the course of the Trial;
c) Thirdly, after the conclusion of a criminal trial, the Court shall, before pronouncing a verdict of whether the Accused is guilty or innocent, as per the Code, listen to the closing arguments of the prosecution and defense. But let me say that in this novel the after the examination of the witnesses the Court dismisses the case on the ground of prejudice on the basis of the result of the aforementioned forensic investigation;
d) Fourthly, a petition which is filed either by the Prosecution or the Defense in a criminal case for any miscellaneous purpose is termed as Criminal Application/Miscellaneous Petition. In this novel, such applications are termed as "Motions";
e) Last but not the least, when a lawyer agrees to represent his/her client in a criminal/civil matter before any Court/Tribunal the latter appoints the former by siging a document known as "Vakkalathnama" which is filed before the Court in which the case is taken up. In this novel, the author refers to that document as an Agreement.
Hence, I would say that it is a decent one-time read. But considering the flaws/improbabilities that I came across while journeying through the novel, I would give it only 2.5 out of 5.
