Jessica Lall killer Manu Sharma freed from Tihar jail
Manu Sharma’s conduct found ‘satisfactory’
Jessica Lall’s killer Manu Sharma, sentenced to life-term, has been freed from prison three years early for “satisfactory jail conduct”. He was released along with 18 other prisoners from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Monday.
The 43-year-old convict, who spent about 17 years in prison in one of the most highprofile crimes in the country, had been out on parole since April first week as part of measures taken by prisons to prevent overcrowding in view of the coronavirus pandemic. He was to be released in 2023.
Manu Sharma, son of former Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma, was set free after Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal accepted the AAP government’s sentence review board (SRB) recommendation for premature release. The board had in its meeting on May 11 taken the decision to release Sharma along with 21 other prisoners.
The order passed on May 28 stated, “In exercise of the power conferred by Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure… Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is pleased to remit the un-expired portion of the sentence of the following 19… life convicts on the recommendations of the Sentence Reviewing Board.”
On the night of April 30, 1999, Manu Sharma has pulled out a gun and shot Jessica Lall after she had refused to serve him liquor at a Qutub Colonnade party, in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area. ■
◗ MANU SHARMA was finally set free after lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal accepted the AAP government’s Sentence Review Board’s (SRB) recommendation for premature release. ◗ THE 43-YEAR-OLD, who spent about 17 years in prison, had been out on parole as part of measures taken by prisons across the country to prevent overcrowding in the coronavirus crisis.
Model Jessica Lall’s killer, Manu Sharma, serving a life term in one of the most high-profile crimes in the country, has been freed from prison three years early for “satisfactory jail conduct.” He was released along with 18 other prisoners from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Monday.
The sensational crime had also inspired a Bollywood movie titled “No One Killed Jessica,” which symbolised the deep flaws in the system that allowed those with money and influence to misuse the law and get away with murder.
The 43-year-old, who spent about 17 years in prison, had been out on parole as part of measures taken by prisons across the country to prevent overcrowding in the coronavirus crisis. He was to be released in 2023.
Manu was finally set free after lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal accepted the AAP government’s Sentence Review Board’s (SRB) recommendation for premature release. The board had, in its meeting held on May 11, taken the decision to release Manu.
It had also recommended the release of 21 other prisoners.
Manu’s lawyer, Amit Sahni, said on Tuesday that the L-G has accepted the SRB recommendations, as per which his client is entitled for release.
This is the sixth time that Manu’s plea for premature release was placed before the board, which comes under the Delhi government and is chaired by home minister Satyendra Jain.
The director general (Prisons), principal secretary (Home), principal secretary (Law), joint commissioner of police (Crime), the government’s chief probation officer, and a district judge are also part of the committee.
An application for remission is considered only when a life convict has spent 14 years in jail. The board takes into account several factors, such as conduct of the prisoner in jail, whether crime was premeditated or was a spur of the moment act, nature and gravity of crime, propensity for committing crime, prospects of post release rehabilitation, etc.
Any convict — barring one found guilty of heinous crimes such as rape and murder, murder and robbery, murder in cases of terrorism, and murder while out on parole — who has completed 14 years in prison without remission is eligible for early release.
In 2018, Jesicca’s younger sister, Sabrina, had also written to the prison authorities stating that she had no objections to Manu’s release.
Last month, Sabrina reiterated that she had forgiven Manu as he had served his time for the crime. She said that it was time for her to move on.
“My fight was always for justice. We got justice. If he is released, I have no problem,” she said.
In November, his lawyer had approached the Delhi high court and said despite a record of good conduct in prison, the board had rejected his release several times. The court had then asked the board to consider his case for release in its next meeting.
The son of former Union minister Venod Sharma, Manu was convicted in 2006 for shooting Jessica after she refused to serve him drink on the night of April 30, 1999, at a party at Tamarind Court restaurant, owned by socialite Bina Ramani, in Delhi.
Manu’s acquittal by a city court in February 2006 had triggered protests across the country, after which the Delhi high court took up the case. The high court reversed the order, saying the lower court ignored or misread material evidence. Manu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2006.
The Supreme Court upheld the order in 2010.
In the past two years, Manu had been in an open jail on account of “good conduct.” He was allowed to leave the prison for work at 8.00 am and return at 6.00 pm.
Eight years ago, Manu Sharma aka Sidharth Vashishta also started an eponymous non-profit for the rehabilitation of prisoners.