Jessica, tandoor case convicts may walk free
NEW DELHI: On Tuesday afternoon, a judge, a top policeman, Delhi’s home minister and four senior government officials are meeting to decide the fate of 90 prisoners who have either served their time in prison or are up for an early release.
Among the names on the list are those of Manu Sharma and Sushil Sharma, two murder convicts linked with the cases that rank among the country’s most high-profile crime stories, senior officials familiar with the development said.
Manu Sharma (real name Siddhartha Vashishta) is the son of former Haryana minister Venod Sharma. He was convicted of shooting dead model Jessica Lall at point blank range at a private party in 1999 when she refused to serve him a drink. He has served over 15 years in prison.
Former Youth Congress president Sushil Sharma, who was convicted for killing his wife Naina Sahni in what came to be known as the tandoor murder, has been in prison for over 23 years. Sushil Sharma had shot Sahni in the head and then burnt her body in a clay oven at a central Delhi restaurant where his friend was the manager.
Two jail officers said on condition of anonymity that both these convicts, who are serving life terms, have been put up for an early release because of their good conduct as “model prisoners”.
“The two have also helped jail officials in managing different departments in the prison such as factory, prisoner meeting system,” one of the officers said.
HT had reported on April 22 that Manu Sharma was among six prisoners in the facility that houses more than 15,000 inmates who had been in ‘open jail’ for the last three months. n
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It is not about him (Sharma) or forgiveness, but more about myself letting go of anger and resentment. I have held on to these emotions since 1999. SABRINA LALL, sister of Jessica
Sabrina Lall, sister of model Jessica Lall who was killed by Manu Sharma for not serving him drinks at a party, said she had no objection if Sharma was released from jail.
Sabrina said she had learnt about Sharma’s reformation in prison from a mutual friend. “We have a mutual friend. He knows Manu’s family too. He told me about Manu’s conduct in prison and how he was a changed man. He gave me details of how Manu is looking after prisoners in jail and also helping them legally and their families financially.”
Refusing to disclose the mutual friend’s identity, she said nobody from Sharma’s family had approached her in the last 18 years. On April 30, 1999, Sharma had shot Jessica when she refused to serve him a drink well past midnight at a party in Mehrauli. Jessica was a celebrity bartender at that party.
Sabrina said this was her way of letting go of the anger within her. “I need to move on and get rid of this baggage. I have no problems if he is released or whatever deal he gets,” said Sabrina on Monday. Sharma, son of former Union minister and hotelier Venod Sharma, is serving a life sentence in Tihar jail. Hindustan Times had on April 22 reported Sharma has been shifted to the open jail, paving his way for release after 15 years in prison.
About three months ago, jail officials shifted Sharma to the open prison, where he is allowed to leave the prison complex at 8am and return by 6pm.
Sabrina said a month ago, she received a letter from Tihar asking her if she wished to take money from the victims’ welfare fund. The money collected from the earnings of jailed prisoners is meant for victims and their families.
“I received a letter saying Manu Sharma was up for bail in 2-3 months. They also asked if I wished to take compensation from the victims’ welfare fund. I said I did not need the money and I had no objection to his release,” she said. Convicts who have served at least 12 years are first transferred to the semi-open jail after which they are eligible for transfer to the open jail.
Prisoners in the semi-open and open jail live in rooms instead of cells. While semi-open prisoners are allowed to work and move freely within the complex, those in open jail are allowed to go out of prison. “It is not about him or forgiveness, but more about myself letting go of anger and resentment. I have held on to these emotions since 1999. I felt I need to move on and live a normal healthy life. I think I have spent so much time dwelling and thinking about lots of negativity. The one I have lost is not going to come back,” Sabrina said.