Jessica Lal murder case: Delhi LG allows Manu Sharma’s release after SRB recommendation

In a massive development, Delhi Lt. Goverr Anil Baijal has approved early release of Manu Sharma, son of former Union minister Ved Sharma who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi High Court in December 2006 for killing Jessica Lal in 1999. This comes after several pleas were made, including Manu Sharma's wife, asking for an early release on grounds of good behaviour. 

Manu Sharma was supposed to serve sentence till May 6, 2023. Lt. Guv issued an official tice that early release of Manu Sharma along with 18 ors has been approved.

READ: Sentence Review Board recommends premature release of Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma

Earlier on May 13, Delhi Sentence Review Board (SRB) had recommended a premature release of Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma, who was serving life imprisonment.  sources said recommendation was made at a meeting of SRB chaired by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain.

"Over 1,000 people have been released on parole so far. Thirty-seven cases came up based on merit (in SRB's meeting). Twenty-two cases were fit for release based on prescribed criteria," a Delhi government official had said.

This was  sixth time that Sharma's plea for premature release was placed before Sentence Review Board, which comes under Delhi government.

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What is Jessica Lal murder case?

Sharma was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Delhi High Court in December 2006 for killing Jessica Lal in 1999. A trial court had acquitted him, but high court reversed order and Supreme Court later upheld his life sentence in April 2010. Lal was shot dead by Sharma after she had refused to serve him liquor at Tamarind Court restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonnade in south Delhi's Mehrauli area on night of April 30, 1999. 

case continued to hit headlines long after murder when Sharma was acquitted by a trial court in February 2006. Following a nationwide public agitation against incident, Delhi High Court took up case through a fast-track trial that ended in his conviction on murder charges.

In December 2006, Delhi High Court convicted Manu, Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill, and acquitted Aloke Khanna, Vikas Gill, Harvinder Singh Chopra, Raja Chopra, Shyam Sunder Sharma and Yograj Singh. court awarded life imprisonment to Manu Sharma and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000, while it awarded four years’ prison term with Rs 3,000 fine each for co-convicts Amardeep Singh Gill and Vikas Yadav.

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