Formality ke liye his sahi - they need a reason to bring her back. And they also can't stay silent and give even inadvertent support (directly or indirectly) to any political side - so they have to bash him for this. And fair enough - karo bash on the outside matters thing. My problem is with the fact that Archana has never gotten her just desserts, and that the guy on the receiving end of the violence will get all the bashing. That's off.
He is getting bashed even from the audience. Sab bol rahe hain he so cold hearted that he didn't save her when she was begging. Kyu kare save??