In a candid and revealing episode of Kadak Talks, hosted by Mayank Shekhar at Kadak Brewpub, veteran crime journalist Jigna Vora shared her transformative journey from covering Mumbai’s underworld to finding solace in spirituality. Vora, whose life story was partially portrayed in the Netflix series “The Scoop,” spoke frankly about her experiences in crime reporting, her time in prison, and her current life as a tarot card reader and spiritual healer.
From Housewife to Crime Reporter
Vora’s entry into journalism was both unexpected and dramatic. Following a divorce and with a four-year-old son to support, she decided to restart her career. Despite having degrees in law (LLB) and an MBA, she enrolled in a mass communication course at Somaiya College.
“I was just a typical housewife living in a small town in Gujarat,” Vora revealed. “I never studied mass communication after my divorce, but I decided to take an evening course at Somaiya College since it was just five minutes from my home and my son would be out playing.”
Her career began at Free Press newspaper, where she initially covered court proceedings. “It’s basically an institution for anyone starting their career in media; many people kick off their careers there,” she explained. Her law background made court reporting a natural fit, which eventually led her into crime journalism since “court is where all the criminals show up.”
The Peak of Mumbai’s Underworld
Vora entered crime journalism during a particularly intense period in Mumbai’s history. “I started around early 2005, so during that time, terrorism was a big deal. There had already been quite a few blasts, and I was covering the 1993 blast trial,” she said. While the underworld’s influence had diminished from its peak in the 80s and 90s, organized crime still maintained its grip on various sectors.
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“After the ’93 blast, the underworld really peaked, especially in Bollywood. The underworld had a lot of influence, whether you look at cricket betting or the construction lobby; extortion was rampant,” Vora explained.
One of her most memorable assignments was covering Abu Salim’s arrival in India. “My first day in India was also my first day reporting. It’s interesting, right? Yeah, it was quite a journey, and I owe a lot of thanks to my editor for guiding me through the past seven years at Free Press, Shailendra Dhawan told me to take on the full story.”
The Dark Side of Crime Reporting
When asked about whether criminals ever expressed regret for their actions, Vora was unequivocal: “Not a single person from the crime world feels that way. They didn’t see it coming, and honestly, there shouldn’t be any sympathy for them at all. Because they knew exactly what they were doing.”
She explained the symbiotic relationship between criminals and media: “They knew that the media wasn’t a threat to them; the media needs them as much as they need the media. Everything works like a fear factor on a fear factor… Their fame translates into fear. The more scared people are of them, the more their business will thrive.”
The Scoop: Fact vs. Fiction
Vora clarified misconceptions about the Netflix series “The Scoop,” which many viewers believed to be a completely accurate portrayal of her life. “Let me tell you that the scoop isn’t the whole story; what’s been shown is just 5% of my life. They’ve only taken the plot—everything else is left out. Maybe 5% of it is true and the rest is mostly fiction.”
Nine Months in Prison
The most challenging period of Vora’s life came when she was arrested in November 2011. “The first day I walked into jail was super humiliating. It makes you question everything about yourself. When you find yourself in a place like that for something you didn’t even do, it really makes you start questioning your own existence.”
During her nine months in prison, Vora found ways to cope with the harsh reality. “I talked to myself, reminding myself it was just a matter of time. I just needed to hang in there until justice came, even if it was late. In jail, I completely surrendered to the situation. I used to chant the Hanuman Chalisa 500 times!”
She also discovered unexpected humanity within prison walls. “I was lucky because I had some really supportive people around me. There was this girl named Paramita from West Bengal who took care of me a lot. People didn’t judge me in jail, and I didn’t judge them either, because we were all part of it.”
Transformation Through Spirituality
Following her release, Vora made a conscious decision to completely change her life. “I just didn’t see it happening—J for journalism, which isn’t really working for me. I feel like I have 25 letters in my alphabet right now. There’s no journalism, no press, no police, no politics. Yes, it’s like that—there’s peace, and that’s all you need.”
She turned to spiritual practices, becoming a professional tarot card reader and healer. “I learned astrology, I learned tarot cards, I learned healing, and I started healing people. And during that healing journey, I ended up healing myself too, side by side.”
Explaining her new path, Vora said, “I stopped judging people. I just don’t judge anymore. Everyone needs compassion… Sometimes you don’t even need solutions; you just need someone to listen.”
Advice for Aspiring Crime Journalists
Despite her experiences, Vora doesn’t discourage others from pursuing crime journalism. “Why shouldn’t they pursue that? Even now, if I hear about something happening, my reporter instincts kick in. Just because something bad happened to me doesn’t mean it will happen to you.”
However, she offered crucial advice: “What I did wrong, I think, was that I was really loyal to my profession. So, I feel like you shouldn’t get too deep into it. You should only work as much as your salary reflects. You shouldn’t be putting in extra effort beyond that.”
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Finding Peace Through Acceptance
Vora’s journey has led her to a philosophy of acceptance and karma. “I’m not blaming any exes or anyone else for what they did; they were all just part of my journey. They’ve helped me break free from my past karma. In this life, everything just unfolded like it was supposed to.”
She concluded with words of wisdom: “You don’t have to do good if you can’t, nobody’s forcing you. But don’t do bad things to anyone because what goes around comes around—you’ll face the consequences right here and now.”
Vora now offers spiritual consultations and can be reached through Instagram for those seeking guidance. Her story serves as a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and the human capacity to find peace even after experiencing profound injustice.
This episode of Kadak Talks offers listeners a rare, unfiltered look into the life of a woman who has witnessed Mumbai’s darkest corners and emerged with a unique perspective on justice, redemption, and spiritual healing.
