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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThis Scroll.in excerpt is fiction from Balraj Juttla’s novel Delhi Vice, not a report about a real Delhi murder. Its central scene is a newsroom argument over who should cover crime—and who gets to decide.
Published on January 8, 2025, the excerpt is credited by Scroll.in as appearing “with permission from Delhi Vice, Balraj Juttla, Bloomsbury India.” Scroll.in classifies it as Indian writing in English, Indian fiction, and crime fiction. Read the excerpt on Scroll.in.
What happens in the excerpt?
At the fictional Delhi Daily, reporter Jaskiran is unhappy with an assignment she considers “soft news,” while junior reporter Rajesh celebrates earning a front-page byline. Crime reporter Sajid Chaudhury needs help on the beat, prompting a discussion among the newsroom staff about who should take on the work.
Sabeena argues that Jaskiran is capable and should have a say in her own career. Editor Vinod Mukherjee resists her return to crime reporting because he fears for her safety and says he made a promise to her family. The group ultimately decides that Rajesh will help Sajid. Sabeena challenges Vinod’s assumption that the crime beat is no place for a young woman.
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What the newsroom conflict is about
Gender, risk, and agency
The scene puts two ideas of protection in tension: Vinod treats Jaskiran’s safety as a reason to keep her away from crime reporting, while Sabeena argues that Jaskiran herself should have a voice in the choice. The excerpt’s conflict is not simply about assigning a reporter; it questions the gendered assumption that a young woman is inherently unsuited to the beat.
Editorial pressure and reporting practice
Sajid objects to publishing police public-relations material as “spin.” Around that disagreement, the narrative shows Vinod balancing newsroom decisions against trustees, staff welfare, advertisers, quarterly targets, and demand for sensational headlines. These pressures give the staffing debate a wider frame: the story considers how commercial incentives, hierarchy, and the drive for attention can shape reporting. They are themes in this fictional newsroom, not evidence about journalism as a whole.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the excerpt does—and does not—establish
The source’s headline frames the novel around two journalists investigating a young woman’s murder case in Delhi. This passage, however, focuses on the newsroom dispute over staffing the crime beat. It does not disclose the case’s resolution or establish the full plot of the novel. Its characters, newspaper, and events are fictional rather than real-world crime reporting.
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