Dr Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar, who were recently acquitted in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case by the Allahabad high court, have said that it was difficult to go back into society, rather somewhat scary+ , but public perception has changed dramatically and people empathize with them after their “complete exoneration”.
In an interview with streaming platform Hotstar, they said that on their recent visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar, people approached them and told them they had been wronged. “The sewadar at the temple let is in without making us stand in the queue despite a huge crowd during Diwali. He was very sympathetic. He told us that something wrong had been righted,” said Rajesh.
He mentioned the role of a friend who helped them settle down in jail, give their life some direction and survive their incarceration.”There was an extreme period of hopelessness as well after bail was rejected and our plea not heard…We got a lot of strength by helping people. Not just dental help but talking to them. When you talk to people, you realise that everybody is in pain and everybody is suffering,” he said. Nupur added that the first two years had been miserable, full of fear and without any hope. They, however, added that people inside the jail were very supportive. “Nobody really said anything to me,” recalled Rajesh. “They were all very nice. They would come up and talk to me. They would tell me that all this would get over in some time and that we don’t have to worry about it.”
Their work in the jail’s dental clinic, which was upgraded, earned them a lot of respect.
Recalling her daughter, Aarushi, fondly, Nupur said she had been a very affectionate child and it was her mother who had brought her up since she had gone back to work. “I remember her telling me once that she wants to be very famous. I remember her love and affection,” she said. “It’s a huge void which in this lifetime will never be filled.”
However, Nupur said that in jail she had grown very close to a girl who used to sleep next to her. “I could see a lot of Aarushi in her. She cared for me, she spoke to me as Aarushi did… In those four years, I survived in jail because I had that young girl with me,” said an emotional Nupur. Rajesh added that it was an adversity that’s impossible to face. “We have just survived it, that’s all.”
Both denied having much interaction with Krishna, Dr Talwars’ assistant. They also offered to help Hemraj’s family . “I feel for him. Of course, my tragedy is very large, but I still feel for him,” said Rajesh. “I am trying to get back to society and people are supporting me.Whatever help I can do for him, I’ll gladly do.” He added that no one had ever approached him on this issue.
