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Vijaya Sharma
 Ahuja's
ghost in a blood stained towel stalks the heart of Mumbai- the Flora
Fountain. Seeking to tell his side of the story…
Blitz says that after the sessions
court jury went to declare its verdict on Commander Nanavati, a
Nanavati-infatuated juror winked at him. "Not guilty"
she meant to indicate by the wink.
Hundred rupee notes smeared
with lipstick fall like confetti over Nanavati as he leaves the
court after his trial. Hero worship for the soldier whose wife was
snatched while he was away on duty.
Blitz, which cost 25 paise
sells for Rs 2/- per copy. It is almost the Commanders spokesperson
campaigning for his release.
Commander Nanavati receives
marriage proposals from starry-eyed girls. They hope he will divorce
the double-crossing Sylvia who betrayed his love…
Nanavati revolvers and Ahuja
towels sell like hot cakes in Mumbai!
In the autumn of 1959, the
Nanavati murder trial sent passions soaring.
It was the betrayal of friendship
by Prem, the betrayal of love by Sylvia wooed and courted by Nanavati
in England and a crime of passion committed by the Commander caught
in a black hole of emotions.
The case involved the well-built
and handsome six-feet tall Parsi Navy Commander Kawas Nanavati,
his lovely blue-eyed, English wife Sylvia and the high society playboy
Prem Ahuja, a rich Sindhi businessman. Nanavati discovers that his
wife is having an affair with Prem. He goes to Ahuja's residence
and shoots him dead as Ahuja steps out of the bathroom with only
a towel wrapped around his waist.
Says former CJI YV Chandrachud:
"It was the subtle human drama which made the case so popular
with the people. Prem Ahuja and Nanavati had known each other for
15 years."
"In those days, a position
like the Navy commander had high value unlike today when most positions
have been devalued and have lost the prestige associated with them.
For a navy commander to commit a murder was shocking," adds
Mr Chandrachud.
Murders in those days were
not passé as today when you pick up a paper only to be bombarded
by innumerable murders in the city and an extra-marital affair raised
many an eyebrow then.
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