Thursday night was power-packed and eventful for the television news channels. News channels NDTV, AajTak and the latter’s sister channel India Today TV telecast a detailed interview of Rhea Chakraborty, the late Sushant Singh Rajput’s partner.

Small wonder that the channels promoted it as if they got the biggest scoop of the year, as if there were no other pressing issues at hand. For instance, it was also the day when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the first time officially said that the economy could contract in 2020-21 due to the coronavirus and its impact.

However, NDTV anchor Sonia Singh promoted the “big” interview, tweeting “#RheatoNDTV- Victim or Villain,” while Rajdeep Sardesai flew down to Mumbai amid coronavirus restrictions for the same.

Both Sonia Singh and Sardesai gave a patient hearing to Chakraborty who seemed well prepared for the “exam.” She even went on to tell the viewers that Sushant Singh came to her dreams and nudged her to speak the truth.

The allegations against Chakraborty are the following: she had been “controlling” the dead actor; she and her family were taking money from Sushant; and that she was instrumental in isolating him from his family.

Chakraborty repeatedly told Sardesai, who incidentally did not have to adhere to any quarantine norms, that she had taken no favors including money from Sushant and that she was deeply in love with him and even wanted to have a baby. Sardesai's interview was for about two hours and the nation watched it with baited breath.

Chakraborty had left Sushant’s home about a week before the actor died. Sushant’s family and many in the media have tried to present Chakraborty as the reason behind the actor’s mysterious death.

Well, one need not be a lawyer to know that anyone sponging on a 34-year-old man cannot be held guilty in a court of law on this count. While Chakraborty repeatedly denied taking money or any other favors from Sushant, one can safely say that even if she did, she did not commit any legal wrong, surely not murder, however morally obnoxious sponging may be.

Chakraborty, however, hammered on the point that she was deeply concerned over the late actor’s mental health condition and she was ready to devote her life to the actor.

The mainstream media has once again initiated a highly watched “trial.” The unfortunate death of the actor could just be a suicide but if at all there is foul play, there could be many angles to it and it is fruitless to crucify Chakraborty at this stage.

It is time that the case was taken with utter seriousness. As many have pointed out, it is important to find out whether or not there is any connection between Sushant’s death and suicide by his manager Disha Salian, who too committed suicide just a few days before the actor died.

Earlier, the mainstream media spun a political angle into his death. Many had also pointed fingers towards the film mafia in the initial stage. But suddenly, the narrative changed and the focus now is on Chakraborty, who until a few months ago was not even a familiar name.

It may not be the right time to say this but the fact is that murder mysteries sell. For millions of viewers, it is like watching a real life murder story on TV news channels and for the latter it is all about TRP game. Entertainment, however, should not be at the expense of reputations.

Nobody should be pronounced guilty or innocent unless the court verdict is out. TV news channels break every rule.

For millions of viewers, it is like watching a real life murder story on TV news channels and for the latter it is all about TRP game..