World

Sole witness of Delhi gang rape claims documentary is fake

Avanindra Pandey supports Indian govt's ban on documentary India's Daughter

Web Desk March 10, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

As the documentary on the 2012 Delhi gang rape, India’s Daughter, continues to make headlines, the boy who was with the victim when she was attacked has supported the Indian government's ban on the documentary, while terming it fake.’

"The documentary is unbalanced as the victim's viewpoint is missing. The facts are hidden and the content is fake. Only Jyoti and I know what happened on that night and the documentary is far from truth," 23-year-old, Avanindra Pandey, the sole witness of the assault, said, according to IBN Live.

Pandey fought with the rapists and murderers to save his friend but was overpowered and beaten up brutally.

Backing the Indian government's decision to ban the documentary featuring an interview of one of the convicts, Mukesh Singh, who blamed the victim for rape, Pandey accused Leslee Udwin of insensitively handling the issue.

Read: India channel protests rape documentary ban with blank screen

Pandey said he had never heard the name of tutor Satendra, who featured in the documentary.

"Moreover, how does he know which movie I wanted to watch on that night," Pandey questioned.

The man who appeared as the tutor of the victim in the documentary said, "Avanindra Pandey wanted to watch an action film while Jyoti wanted to watch Life Of Pi."

Read: A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy, says Delhi bus rapist

Pandey went on to say, "A controversy was created unnecessarily and was sensationalised. The documentary made fun of emotions and questioned the law and order situation in our country."

"The documentary has dented the country's image. It showed that any individual can enter the central jail of our country and can interview a criminal," he added.

Read: Indian govt threatens BBC over broadcast of Delhi rape film

Responding to a question on whether he was approached to be a part of the documentary, Pandey said, "I was approached by many people and it started one-and-a-half years ago, in 2013. I did not want to be part of it as I was not convinced by its motive. Also, I was not mentally prepared and had health issues as well.”

He also appealed that there should be a censor board for documentaries as well.

Read: Ban on Delhi gang-rape documentary stirs fierce debate in India

The documentary was about the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on a moving bus in New Delhi and featured one of the four men involved in the gang rape.

The interview of the rapist sparked outrage and controversy in India said. “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” Mukesh Singh said in the interview from jail.

COMMENTS (9)

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply I think this guy is being pressured by the government to say such things. Where was he when the documentary was being filmed? He should have had presented his views at that time.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply While factual errors should not be made, a few factual errors narrated by someone else (and not the director of the film) doesn't make any difference to the overall theme of the documentary. If I must make a guess, the GOVERNMENT OF INDIA is spinelessly using this man to shamelessly justify the moronic act of ban on the documentary. It's unfortunate that we have an immature government governing a more mature people who can handle the truth.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

abhi | 9 years ago | Reply So this is what BBC's journalism is! they contact some eager for fame person and create a story which sells, they put some spices also like some holleywood movie names. Generally you would expect investigative journalists to bring something out which breaks some stereotypes, but BBC is consitent in propagating the stereotypes. What is the point of sensationalising the interview of Mukesh? When is BBC going to make a documentry on Americal police shooting black youth, I am sure its not going to happen and that is the ture face of BBC.

Mr. Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Utter rubbish!!! Only the rapist and the victim, Joyti, can tell what happened. This boy was knocked out in the first 5 mins and slept through the entire ordeal. Just trying to be self-important now, I guess.

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply Just because he is a victim does not mean his opinions are correct. Unfortunately he still seem to have the mindset that it is the government's job to ban or censor movies and TV programs. He is wrong.

Mohammad Ali Siddiqui | 9 years ago | Reply I have seen the BBC documentary. The writer and director has revealed the most closest facts of the truth as what has actually happened on the night of December 16, 2012 with the deceased 23 years medical student Jyoti Singh and her boy friend. The documentary says that after every 20 minutes, a woman is raped some where in India. It further says that India claim to be the 4th largest economy of the world but 50% of its population live below poverty line. Had Avanindra Pandey cooperated with BBC TV and recided the truth, it would have been better, but Avanindra Pandey cant deny the facts revealed by the real parents of Jyoti Singh and by the parents of the rapists. The story of "Daughter of India" Jyoti Singh is a real story of only one daughter, and there are more than 50 daughters of India who are raped in every 24 hours and BBC can't document every rape in India. Any one want to see the BBC documentary, he or she can click the below mentioned link. https://t.co/CrbCjFUCxK #Vimeo #indiaapostrophesdaughter #jyotisingh #rape #india

Maria | 9 years ago | Reply Aha! I see. So, Truth has expiry date. And lie becomes truth, if said early. Got it, @Sana, got it.

Sana | 9 years ago | Reply Dude, the time when you could've actually given the real facts and shared the true incident is gone now. If you really wanted to bring a change in your country, you would've shared the truth with the director and helped her give the right image. Unfortunately you didn't, don't undermine the issue of "rape" with such views now. The idea of the documentary is far greater than just denting India's image. I think we all, including us, should work on the real issue.

really? | 9 years ago | Reply What this guy doesn't understand the documentary maker must have reached him as well... Why didn't he express his views in documentary then?... The fact checking could have been done on incident... Feel free to express them to resolve rape issue in India... WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT IN DOCUMENTARY or elsewhere?

Replying to X