Illegal - Justice, Out of Order (2020): Season 1, Episode 10 - The Final Face-off - full transcript

The Final face-off

Why have you come to meet me?

I felt I should ask after you.

How are you?
- Oh, just fuck off!

I am in jail because of you,

and you are here to ask me if I am
okay!

Your anger is justified.
- Not even one word.

You fucker! Your firm's licence
has to be cancelled!

All those lawyers should be
banned from practising.

And that bitch! Niharika Singh.

Niharika has not tricked only you.



She has tricked JJ
and the rest of the firm as well.

What nonsense!

Niharika will only follow
the firm's orders.

Niharika follows only her mom's
orders.

Niharika Shekhawat

is Surya Shekhawat's daughter
borne by his first wife.

She is your step-sister.

Mr Shekhawat.
- Shut up!

Today my son is in jail because of
you.

How could you?

You had promised me.

You had promised me
that you would save him.

Is this how you fulfil a promise?

You had also said that you aren't
seeking any revenge. Right?



So, what was this then?

Mr Shekhawat,
Neeraj himself is responsible

for him ending up in prison.

He confessed to his crime.

You can't blame me for that.

And it is best you please leave right
now.

No! Because I know the game now.

My son was just a bait for you.

I was your actual target. Right?

Tell me something.

Did you hatch this plan alone?
Or was your mother involved in it too?

Don't you dare say that!

You weren't the target,
but you are indeed responsible for it.

Your son has done exactly what you did
twenty years ago.

Like father, like son!

That's enough! I'll kill you, dammit!
- Oh God.

You have taken the life of my son.

Do you even understand that?
- Stop it.

Please stop it.
- Do you even realise it, dammit?

Sir, please stop it. Stop it.
- She ruined my son's life.

That's it! Enough! I've had enough
of this father-daughter relationship!

I am done feeling guilty for my
actions over the past twenty years!

You don't know who you have messed
with.

I will make life hell for you in Delhi! You will see!
- Please. Sir, please.

You have seen only my goodness
until today.

But now you'll get to see my nastiness!
- Sir, leave.

You better watch out!
- Can you please just leave?

You better watch out! I am warning you!
- Enough.

I am fucking warning you!

You better bloody watch out.
- Oh God.

Shit.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry.

A hero, a leader, a legend
or a mastermind.

Janardhan Jaitley.
- So, we have JJ,

who is against capital punishment.

But this isn't just a battle

between a mentor and a disciple.
- But his associate

is here as an advocate of death.
- It is a battle of ideals.

Case number 9/66A.

The State versus Meher Salam
mercy plea petition.

Passive euthanasia, Your Honour.

We'd like to make an appeal to permit
passive euthanasia for Meher Salam.

Mercy killing.
- Mercy killing for Meher Salam.

It is a professional suicide for her.

Foolish girl.

Mercy killing.

Your Honour, there is this notion
of a legal strategy.

And then, we have something called
a James Hadley Chase novel.

Ms Singh is confusing the two.

Meher Salam poisoned
her family to death one night.

For that, she was sentenced to death.

Now, Meher Salam is hoping

that she will get executed
immediately.

Hence, she is bothering the court.

Your Honour, her mercy plea
was rejected five years ago.

So, technically speaking,

she has been legally dead
for the past five years.

Passive euthanasia is just a corrective
measurement to right the wrong.

Your Honour, in Meerut, there used to
be a fair on the occasion of Ekadashi.

A balloon-seller used to come
to that fair.

He was very amusing and popular.

He had a special skill.
He could mould a balloon

into the shape of an animal
of the customer's choice.

He'd mould it in the shape of a dog,
a cow, an ox or even a buffalo.

Miss Singh seems to have taken a cue
from that balloon-seller.

She thinks the law is like a balloon.

She has interpreted the law
as per her will.

The law is an unambiguously
written order, Your Honour.

No.
- No?

What do you mean to say?

Saying no is not enough to make
an argument, Ms Singh.

You are a lawyer
standing in the court of law.

Do I have to remind you of that?

I am sorry, sir.

I was just gathering my thoughts.

I lack the experience that you have.

Since you are senior to me, I was
trying to figure out a way to remind you

that you are a lawyer
standing in the court of law.

The law is not like a balloon.

Nor is it an unambiguously written
order.

Had that been the case,
courts wouldn't have existed.

We'd have a single-window counter

wherein a clerk would be seated
holding a book of law

handing out tickets for truth and lies
to people. - Okay.

The court of law exists as the
interpretation of law is necessary.

And your interpretation of the law
favours mercy killing.

Did you ever make the convict
see some sense?

Did you ever offer her
any correct legal counsel?

No.

No. I am saying this

because this time, no one will be imprisoned because of you.
- Mr Jaitley.

Sorry... Sorry, Your Honour.

You are asking euthanasia for her,
while she still has time to live.

Sir, did you ever try to ask Meher
Salam

why she is so desperate to get
executed?

Or did you try to tell her
that there's still hope for her?

Sir, I know you are against
capital punishment

because we referred to your lectures
while studying in law college.

But did you ever think of meeting
the person you are trying to save?

Did you ever think of meeting her
in person and ask, 'Why, Meher?'

'Why do you wish to die?'

And herein lies the problem, Your
Honour.

We think justice is like
a one-size-fits-all track pants.

But to ensure
that law translates into justice

we need to understand
the victim's mindset.

And as lawyers, that is our job.

Meher Salam's chances of survival are
less than that of a brain-dead person.

Meher Salam is the perfect candidate
for passive euthanasia, Your Honour.

Miss Singh, are you aware
that using this law inappropriately

sets a legal precedence?

In the future, any person could make
a demand for passive euthanasia.

Your Honour, it is possible that it
might set the wrong legal precedent.

But this doesn't mean
that we will deny Meher the justice

that she deserves,

which would go against
the spirit of the law, Your Honour.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Jyoti Saxena used to be your
batchmate in college.

Alright, Ms Singh.

We will hear your petition.

The next date is set for 15th of
October.

Hi.
- Hey.

What are you doing?

Are you packing your heels?

How are you going to live now, bro?

Just how I am supposed to.

So, you don't need them anymore, huh?

No.

And this, what's the phrase for it?

This change of heart.
How did this come about?

I haven't had a change of heart.
My mindset has changed. - Oh.

I used to think I am not capable
enough.

That my problems are bigger than me.

But now, I feel I am way bigger
than my problems.

And how did you think of that?

I've realised a truth about truth.

Truth has been rendered powerless
in today's world.

Handicapped without evidence.

The lie has become way more powerful
than the truth.

And in these times, if I want
the truth to reach the masses,

I need to make use of lies and
deception.

Fair means if possible,
foul means if necessary.

The tragedy is,

I thought I would make the truth

tower over the lies
by putting on these high heels.

I am so stupid.

These people are very nasty, Sue.

If I need to win in their game,

I need to stoop lower than they can.

When you came here from Bangalore,

you were so shy and nervous.

And now, look at you.

I guess JJ has met his match.

JJ has lit a match,

and now I will burn him down.

Your Honour,
these are Meher Salam's pictures.

Such mishaps befall Meher Salam
quite often in prison.

Your Honour, in these pictures, you can
see Constable Rama and Constable Kranti.

And this is Suresh, the guard on duty.

Meher Salam has attacked each one of
them.

Meher Salam is a long-time prisoner

who gets into these fights
every other day.

Hence, all the constables are afraid
of her.

But I don't understand how this is
related to passive euthanasia.

Your Honour, when we wake up every
morning, we think about our future.

We think about the days
that lie ahead of us.

We have got hopes and aspirations.

Same as Meher Salam.

Meher Salam has also got
some hopes and aspirations.

Every morning she thinks...

In fact, she hopes,
'This is going to be my last day.'

She is awaiting the death
we have promised her,

but we won't be able to fulfil it.

Your Honour,
I do sympathise with Meher Salam.

But Ms Singh's statements
have got me puzzled.

I feel as if we are being asked to
interpret the meaning of some poetry.

Yes, Meher Salam has been
sentenced to death.

Yes, she is awaiting her execution.

But still, why does she need
to attack the constables violently?

Your Honour, Meher Salam
is passing through a state of mind.

It cannot be explained simply,
like adding 2 and 2 to get 4.

Therefore, I would request the bench
to indulge me.

Death row syndrome.

Death row syndrome is a syndrome
that occurs in prisoners on death row.

Meher Salam didn't attack that
constable

because she held a grudge
against that constable.

Rather, she attacked the constable

because she has lost track
of what's right and what's wrong.

She has lost her connect with reality.

So, she is finding it difficult to
adjust to her life in the wait for death.

Something like that.

It means Meher is not doing
these things consciously.

For instance,
violently attacking a constable.

Meher Salam is not mad.

No... No... I completely agree
with Ms Singh. Death row syndrome.

It happens with people like Meher
Salam.

It has caused a harmful effect
on her mental condition.

And if that's the case, how can we
trust her decision, Your Honour?

Death row syndrome is not about insanity, Your Honour.
- Okay.

This is Saima's sworn statement.
She is Meher Salam's grandmother.

She clearly states that Meher Salam
is mentally unwell.

These are the documents.

So, you tell me. If such a person
makes a demand for death,

we won't allow that person to embrace
death, Your Honour. I mean,

we'll get that person treated.

Your Honour, Meher Salam is mentally
fit

because... - Are you
a certified psychologist, Ms Singh?

Perhaps, you have
some extracurricular skills

which you'd like to reveal to this
court.

No. - So, why should the court
accept your statement then?

Meher Salam has already been
given the death sentence.

Your Honour, here's how I'd like to
present this.

First, Meher Salam filed her case
in the High Court.

After that, she made an appeal
to the Supreme Court.

This means Meher Salam didn't want
to die right from the beginning.

But now she is refusing
for the mercy petition plea.

So, before allowing anyone
the pleasure of express death,

we first need to find out
why that person wishes to die.

That's why I submitted the documents.

No... No... Until we hear it
from Meher Salam herself, we can't...

But this court won't allow her
as a witness.

Okay. But we can request the court,
in the spirit of law,

to make this exception.

The Supreme Court will make an exception.
- Thank you.

The Supreme Court is ordering the
State

to record Meher Salam's testimony
by tomorrow evening.

Ms Singh, please feel free
to be present there.

I don't want to speak
in front of any camera.

You are there to talk to them.
So, talk to them.

You know why they are doing it.

They want me to say that I want to
die.

No. It is because they know
that you'll refuse to face the camera.

That you are scared of electrical
cables.

That you feel insecure
in the presence of people.

That bright light terrorises you.

They are intimidating you
so that you do a turnaround.

And then they will lock you up
in this cell again.

And they will tell me in the court,

'Meher Salam does not wish to die.'

So, tell me. What should we do?

Will you stay with me?

Certainly.

Don't worry. I am here with you.

It will get done smoothly.

This ponytail looks good on you.

Meher, I know. You will give
the testimony very well.

Isn't it?

Meher... Meher...
- Light... Light...

Light!
- Meher!

No.
- Meher... Meher...

Meher? Meher, I am here with you.
Meher?

Meher. Meher, look at me. Meher.

Look at me. Look at me. Meher?

Meher, it is going to be okay.

Don't be afraid. I am right here.

Everything is fine.

Everything will be fine.

Come on.

Meher, this way.

Who will be operating the camera?

Meher.

Meher.

Look at me.

I am right here. Okay?

My name is Meher Salam.

And I am in complete sanity

as I request the government

to give me

the death sentence.

Wow. I mean, I am convinced.

Provided they allow you to present
this in the court.

Provided.

It can't be that simple.

The problem is that everything could
not have proceeded so smoothly.

I am yet to understand

what's going on in JJ's mind.

I am saddened by the events of last
night.

Ms Singh. Mr Jaitley. After the demise
of Meher Salam,

case number 9/66A is now closed.

Your Honour, aren't you even curious?

She was a woman who tried
to make her voice heard all her life.

She was imprisoned
for the last fifteen years.

Whenever I met her, all she said was,
'Nobody is willing to listen to me.'

Finally, when everybody
was willing to listen to her,

why did she need to commit suicide?

Ms Singh, we value your commitment
and tenacity.

Very impressive.

But we will have to say no this time.

What's the point of listening
to testimonies

when the case has been closed?

Your Honour, the case for Meher
Salam's mercy killing has been closed.

But this is a different issue.

The State was accessory
to Meher Salam's suicide.

Ms Singh, a light pin
got left behind accidentally.

Is that why you are regarding
the State as an accessory?

Ms Singh, we are listening. Go on.

Your Honour, my client Meher Salam
was sentenced to death.

She committed suicide in jail,
which is a state property.

She was being provoked constantly.

Your Honour, please.
- Mr Jaitley.

Go on, Ms Singh.

Thank you, Your Honour.

I am in possession of her dying
testimony.

Meher Salam's dying declaration,

which proves that the state forced
her to take such a step.

Look at SK carefully.

He is writing 'Hari Om' in his diary
again and again.

We will admit the testimony.

Please sit down, Mr Jaitley.

Mahesh, please bring in the
television.

'My name'

'is Meher Salam.'

'And I am in complete sanity'

'as I request the government'

'to give me'

'the death sentence.'

'I loved Bilal with all my heart.'

'But my family beat him up publicly'

'after stripping him naked.'

'He could not bear this humiliation.'

'Hence, he committed suicide.'

'I lost my mind then.'

'And I killed my entire family'

'by giving them poison.'

'I have committed a heinous crime.'

'And I am serving my sentence for
that.'

'And it happens in our prisons too.'

'It happens with the women.'

'But I never let out a shriek.'

'It used to be very painful,
but I stayed quiet.'

'I never uttered a word about it
to anyone'

'because my son was very young.'

'He used to sleep next to me.
What if he had woken up?'

'Then they took away Abid from me.'

'After that, I chose not to stay
quiet.'

'I used to shriek loudly.'

'I agree. I have committed a huge
crime.'

'And I have been given punishment for
it.'

'Constable Kranti.'

'She used to come to me.'

'One day she came to me and said,
'Today, they will hang you.'.'

'God is witness that I invoked
the holy verses in my heart.'

'They covered my face with a black
cloth.'

'But this bitch...'

'They took me for a ride.'

'They made a joke out of me.'

'They made fun of me not once,
but several times.'

'My life here was full of
humiliation.'

'I can't bear this anymore.'

'Spare me, for God's sake.'

'Please forgive me.'

'I can't take this anymore.'

'I can't take this anymore.'

Your Honour, Meher Salam
didn't want to die.

But she was left with no other option.

Mock executions.

They must have done it to her
at least thirteen times.

We live in a civilised society

where public hangings are not
permitted.

We don't turn a legal punishment
into a spectacle.

This punishment is administered behind
closed doors in a hushed manner.

But the system takes
advantage of the fact

that such people go out of sight
and out of mind.

They are declared persona non grata.

Such people are left with no identity.

They are not given any human rights.

Hence, the constables, wardens
and guards in prisons

get a free hand to torture them.

Sadism, torture, sexual assault.

The state is an accessory
to all these things.

When Meher Salam was given
the death sentence,

there was no female executioner
present.

By the time the system comes up
with a solution to this problem,

the lives of Meher Salam
and other death row prisoners like her

keep hanging in the balance.

What kind of civilised society
are we living in?

Your Honour, Niharika

has raised a very serious issue.

And I am in complete agreement
with her about this.

I opposed capital punishment all my
life.

But today, for the first time,

I request for an execution.

All the death row prisoners

either be executed
within a limited time period,

or their death sentence should be
commuted to life sentences.

Hereafter, the state must never
be an accessory

to the kind of atrocities
that were faced by Meher Salam.

We will take that into consideration.

And also, Your Honour,

I want this entire ruling to be
codified in Meher Salam's name.

Okay, Mr Jaitley.

Thank you, Your Honour.

Is victory your default mode?

Akshay, I lost the case.

The world will certainly think so.

And I am pretty sure dad will also
convince himself likewise.

But I have been thinking about it.

You see, Meher Salam was phobic
to video, lights and cameras.

Yet you convinced her
to give video evidence.

And then the next thing we know,
Meher is dead.

Like clockwork.

And you got exactly what you wanted.

So, you think I did this to...

Of course, I think that you...

Meher Salam wanted to die.

And you wanted to fulfil Meher's wish.

So then, how did you
convince yourself, Niharika?

What did you say?

Passive euthanasia?

Well, it wasn't. It was active.

You assisted her to commit suicide.

And what's this?

Have you noted down your
conspiracy theory in this?

I must say you have a lot of time
on your hands, Akshay.

You misled your client Neeraj
Shekhawat.

You gave him counsel in bad faith.
And it helps

that your other client, Meher Salam,

was found dead
under suspicious circumstances.

You piece of shit.

You listen to me.
- No.

You listen to me.

Your holier-than-thou attitude.

Your fake sense of morality.
I have seen it all.

You are nothing, but a fucking
hypocrite

who has become the judge,
jury and executioner

under the garb of morality.

But you know what, Niharika?

Meher Salam is dead.

Neeraj is in jail.

And the law has been
repeatedly murdered by you.

And actually, you know what?

You are a fucking virus.
That's what you are.

You have no right to be
a law practitioner.

And I will make sure that you never,
ever enter another courtroom.

Ever again.

We are going to Italy day after tomorrow,
and you've already packed your bags.

There is a letter lying on the bed.
Read it.

I found a remnant of your love story
with Niharika

in your jacket pocket.

Maybe God wanted me to find out.

And realise

that the love I am expecting from
you... It is just foolish of me.

Devika, I...

I don't know what to say.

Look, our marriage is
very important to me.

And whatever happened between
Niharika and me, it's over.

I promise.

At least she is lucky enough to have
started something that got over.

Nothing even started
between the two of us.

I am leaving you, Akshay.

I deserve happiness, and I...

I have every right to look for it.

Romin, bring my bags from the room.

Greetings, sir.

Greetings, sir.

Yes, come. Sit down.

Thank you, sir.

Take a look at this photograph.

Is this what you need to mend?

Yes.

Do you want her dead or alive?

I wish to damage her brain.

She is too sharp.

You will kidnap her from her house.

Tie up her hands and seal her mouth.

And put her in a gunny sack.

I have asked Majid to arrange
for a pickup truck.

After putting the gunny sack in the
truck,

both of you will start for Bangalore
by road.

It will take you three days.

And she will stay in that gunny sack
for three days.

I believe that much time will be
enough

to induce the fear in her
that will last for a lifetime.

Sir, it is a very deadly plan.

She has inflicted a deep wound.

I wish to inflict her
with a much deeper wound.

Whoa.

I love gifts.

Actually, I love guessing
what's inside the wrapping.

But in your case, I don't know.

What could a serious man
like Puneet Tandon give me?

Actually, there are two gifts.
One at a time. Go ahead.

I thought

you wouldn't have the time
to get your visiting cards printed.

And even if you had the time, the
idea wouldn't cross your mind. So...

'Niharika Sharma, Advocate.'

Can I give you a hug?

Sure.

Here.

Thank you.
- You are most welcome.

That means a lot.

I think for your second present
you should sit down.

What is it?
- Sit.

I have a case for you, Niharika.

It's a murder case, and

I want both of us to fight it
together.

What case?

Whose murder?

The murder of Meher Salam.

That's right.

I have got evidence
that Meher didn't commit suicide.

She was murdered,

and, perhaps, you know who is behind
it.

Was Meher's death a murder?

Yes.

Just like how Rohan's death was a
murder.

Just like how Rohini's and
Onir's deaths were murders.

Likewise, Janardhan Jaitley
got Meher murdered.

Bastard.

And, yes. If you wish to
fight this case with me,

you must know

that Janardhan Jaitley will go
to any extent to protect himself.

So, you and I

can find ourselves lying dead on some
road of Delhi like Rohini and Meher.

If I step back from a battle against
Janardhan Jaitley,

it will be the end of my conscience.

Those who lack conscience become
monsters like Janardhan Jaitley.

I don't want to be like Janardhan
Jaitley.

I am with you.

Let's get him down.