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

Delhi Sentence Review Board (SRB) has recommended a premature release of Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma, who is serving life imprisonment, sources said on Tuesday. A final decision on recommendation will, however, be taken by Lt Goverr Anil Baijal. sources said recommendation was made at a meeting of SRB chaired by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday.

"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 said.

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

" file will w be sent to lieutenant goverr for final approval," sources added.

"Manu Sharma fulfils all parameters as required for premature release," his lawyer Amit Sahni said.

Sharma, son of former Union minister Ved 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.