Patricide case: ‘Homeless’ actor looks at bright side

VK Sharma, who has acted in several movies, including ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’, ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’ and ‘Tevar’, is a homeless man now. His house was set on fire by former Merchant Navy officer Rahul Matta, 39, just minutes after the latter stabbed his father Ravindra Matta to death on Sunday. Looking at the bright side, however, Sharma said: “One thing I realised after the tragedy was that so many people love me and came to help me.”   

“I am alive and my family is safe. This is all that matters to me. There is nothing more magical than being alive. I do not feel sorry at all. I have cried only thrice since yesterday. The first time was when my teacher came to meet me and hugged me. He had never hugged me before. The second time was when my student called me up and cried inconsolably. The third time was when I called up ASI Hansraj in the morning and he told me about the police officers in the ICU,” he said.

When queried about the cut on his hand that he received when Rahul hit him, he held up his hand and blessed the people in jest. He further said that he has to go to Pune for the screening of his upcoming film, but he had no identity proof to show at the airport. A Dell laptop that he had bought recently was also gutted. The Sharma family had to spend the night at a friend’s place in Indirapuram.

Talking about his close shave with death, Sharma said: “What saved me was that whenever he spoke to me, I always talked to him. As a society, we need to understand that if the behaviour of a person is not normal, then instead of making fun, one should try to understand and be kind.” Sharma’s wife Kiran has also done several TV serials and theatre shows.

Meanwhile, Rahul was sent in to 14-day judicial custody. During interrogation, he revealed that he had filed a civil case against his father and that he was living on the streets for the last two months. He had married a divorcee, but kept changing her name during the questioning. He had joined the Merchant Navy in 1995, where he worked till 2008. When questioned by the media at the Madhu Vihar police station, he said: “I have not killed anyone. Look what the police has done to me.”

A police officer said: “Rahul wanted to buy a ship when he was in Florida. He wanted to eliminate everyone who was close to his parents. That is why he attcked Renu Bansal, who had to get 25 stitches on her cheeks and forehead.”

Rahul had stabbed his father around 36 times on his neck, shoulders and chest. His mother Vibha Matta, who is in a state of shock, has not spoken a single word since the tragic incident.