Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has approved the premature release of Jessica Lal murder case convict Manu Sharma, who is currently serving a life sentence, according to an official order.
This comes after the Delhi Sentence Review Board (SRB), which comes under the Delhi government, had recommended Sharma's premature release last month.
On April 30, 1999, a 34-year-old model Jessica Lal was working at the Tamarind Court restaurant in south Delhi's Mehrauli when she was shot dead by Manu Sharma for refusing to serve him alcohol. Sharma was the son of former Haryana Congress leader, Venod Sharma. Enraged at Lal's audacity, he shot her at around 2 AM in the morning.
Lal was subsequently rushed to the Apollo hospital in Delhi but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The Lal murder case resulted in nationwide outrage, especially after Sharma was initially acquitted in 2006 by a trial court. However, the Delhi High Court then took up his case and he was convicted on murder charges. Sharma was handed a life imprisonment sentence.
Sharma had even appealed to the Supreme Court but in 2010, the top court upheld the life sentence.
But had justice been served? No.
As per reports, Sharma has been granted parole at least ten times in the last sixteen years - all for myriad reasons. In 2009, when Lal got parole on account of his mother's ill health, he allegedly got involved in a bar brawl. Proof that history repeats itself?
A couple of years ago, Sharma was moved to an open prison. For the unaware, this means the convicts are allowed to step out of prison during the day and return in the evening. In these last few years, Sharma had been leaving Tihar Jail very day to attend office in South Delhi.
And now, reports suggest that Sharma has been granted premature release on grounds of good behaviour. The news has enraged netizens who feel that this does injustice to the memory of Lal, whom he brutally murdered 21 years ago.
#ManuSharma commits a murder, get convicted after a long struggle, get many paroles, enjoy the benefit of OPEN JAIL (free from morning to evening), and then get released.
— Sunil Sihag (@sunilsihag1024) June 2, 2020
Thank you @ArvindKejriwal @LtGovDelhi for looking after the well being of rich murderers.#Jessicalal
Let's not forget that murderer of Jessica Lal was also given the privilege of Open Jail! He could go out from morning to evening!
— Sunil Sihag (@sunilsihag1024) June 2, 2020
But our govts would not even allow bail pleas of anti-CAA activists or those accused in Bhima Koregaon violence!
Really?
— hello..its me (@Sundeep123) June 2, 2020
Manu Sharma, who shot dead Jessica Lal in 1990, released from Delhi prison
He killed a young aspiring women shouldn't be allowed out of jail @BJP4Delhi @CPDelhi @LtGovDelhi
What example are we setting
Are you serious? He killed a Girl for a Drink. I condemn this. #JessicaLal https://t.co/Zr1esdRH5U
— Harsh Singh (@hsingh21) June 2, 2020
Delhi government released the murder convict of Jessica Lal murder. So much for women protection! pic.twitter.com/G8H42TEE60
— Nishchal (@nishchaldwivedi) June 2, 2020
Sad to see Jessica Lal’s murderer go scot free under the pretext of good behaviour in jail.
— IbraKaDabra {Laxman FC} #LUHG (@IbrAp1KAchU20) June 2, 2020
She was murdered because she dared to show the mirror to a spoilt brat.
U only realise the implication of him walking away when u have someone close to u working in night duty.
Why are convicted murderers being released? Who takes these decisions & on what basis? ⚠️Sheer mockery of judiciary ⛔
— Akancha Srivastava (@AkanchaS) June 2, 2020
This is no country for girls/women. Cos they will get ra*ed, murdered, it will take years for conviction and then murderer is freed 😡 #JessicaLal #WomenSafety https://t.co/s4GlHJRqsV
Manu Sharma , the Murderer of Jessica Lal got released today after LG Delhi approved it.
— Nеhг_шно 2.0 (@WhoNehr) June 2, 2020
Meanwile People who just took part in Anti-CAA protest are arrested.
He killed Jessica Lal because she refused to serve him a drink. On what grounds was his good behaviour judged? It took years and multiple appeals to convict him after being acquitted once. Our judiciary is a joke because of such decisions. https://t.co/7p2nIvo2Ft
— Aciditea (@NehaT_) June 2, 2020
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