Ab na hogi yachana, Na hogi prarthana
Ab rann hoga, Jeevan vijay
Ya phir maran hoga
Sarangi Mahajan
Pravin and wife Sarangi have always maintained that the battle was not only about money. Outlook has learned that there were deeply personal issues between the brothers that, if made public, could not only damage Pramod's reputation but also embarrass the Bharatiya Janata Party. These issues pertained to Pramod's personal life and lifestyle. In March-April last year, these lifestyle issues apparently came to a head in a manner that directly affected Pravin and his family. If Pravin had spoken about these issues on oath, the testimony was bound to become a highly provocative and damaging document. Unwittingly, both the prosecution and defence lawyers gave a clue to its contents as they argued about a fitting sentence for Pravin. Nikam insisted the testimony on oath "had nothing to do with the murder" and that Pravin had given it "only to create a suspicion in the minds of people about the character of (Pramod) Mahajan".
Not really, argued defence lawyer Harshad Ponda. Pravin, he said, had "brought things on record not to malign Mahajan but to state the truth. We must understand that the murder was purely a family affair and there was no political motive behind it". There's talk now that Pramod's family will do everything possible to prevent the testimony from becoming public. Nikam pleaded with the judge that its contents remain out of public gaze even after the judgement copy—a public document—is released by the court. "We don't want to say anything about this part," said Munde. "We are satisfied with the justice though we believe the prosecution should appeal against the sentence to demand death penalty. " Pramod's wife Rekha, children Rahul and Poonam made no official statement but endorsed Munde's sentiments. Pravin and Sarangi apparently want the truth out sometime in the future but for the moment their priority is to secure bail from the high court.
The reaction within the BJP was rather muted. Besides the usual platitude about "justice is done", there was little either from the Maharashtra state unit or the central party office. Sources say the party, having managed to distance itself in the last year-and-a-half from the cult and culture of Pramod Mahajan, wishes things to stay that way. Son Rahul's attempts at gaining a political toehold came to naught when he was allegedly found drunk and drugged in Mahajan's official residence in Delhi within a month of his death. That incident claimed the life of Mahajan's trusted aide Vivek Moitra, believed to have known too much about his boss.
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The family instead has pinned its hopes on Poonam Mahajan Rao, yet to be 30, but bright, energetic and displaying the organisational skills of her father. Her sharp campaigning in Gujarat earlier this month earned her a few brownie points in the party. Munde, now BJP general secretary, is caught in a dilemma. Sidelined in Maharashtra, not yet strong in Delhi, he is torn between promoting himself and guiding Poonam's political career.
The situation is worse for Pravin's family. Sarangi broke down in court when the verdict was pronounced but gathered herself soon after to have lunch with her convicted husband. It could be their last lunch together for many days or months. The sentence shattered her when it came but only made her resolve to take the fight further. Sarangi, with support from her brothers and ageing mother, has become the bulwark for her "shocked and emotional" twins, the college-going Kapil and Vrushali who turn 18 later this week. "I have become stronger, this incident has changed me," she remarked to reporters. "I don't need any Mahajan or Munde to fight it out."
Still, the pain and anguish of seeing Pravin in jail for years and the cold-shouldering by the Mahajan family have taken their toll. Sarangi's aged mother-in-law Prabhavati declared she considered Pravin "dead" and still spoke fondly of losing Pramod, her "favourite son". Only in passing did she mention that Sarangi's children be considered part of the larger family.
The verdict is certainly not the end of the Mahajan vs Mahajan saga. But will the real truth ever surface? Will Pravin ever be allowed to tell his side of the story if and when he is granted bail?
