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{{Short description|Convicted murderer (born 1977)}}
'''Manu Sharma''' (b. 1977) is widely believed to have murdered ]n model and documentary filmmaker ] in a crowded bar early
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
in the morning of on ], ]. Despite dozens of witnesses,
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
Manu was acquitted of all charges, along with seven other well-connected defendants by judge S.L. Bhayana on ], ]. Manu Sharma is the son of Haryana power minister ] of the Indian ], an erstwhile minister in the central ] cabinet. The family is related to ex-president ] and owns a number of sugar mills and entertainment businesses in ], ] and ].
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Manu Sharma
|Other name. = Siddharth Sharma
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| birth_date = {{bya|1977}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| charge = Murder
| motive = Refusal to be served alcohol
| conviction = 18 December 2006
| conviction_penalty = Life imprisonment; released on 2 June 2020 for good behaviour
| conviction_status = Convicted
| occupation = Pub owner
|Company owned = Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd. (PAIL)
| spouse = {{marriage|Preity Sharma |2015}} <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/manu-sharma-gets-april-2015-marriage-registered-at-ut-registrar-s-office/story-uWvNhUlGNn9sRGMmzt0F9L.html#:~:text=Sector%2017%20here.-,Out%20on%20parole%2C%20Sharma%2C%2039%2C%20arrived%20at%20the%20registrar's,the%20slip%20to%20the%20media. | title=Manu Sharma gets April 2015 marriage registered at UT registrar's office | publisher=Hindustan Times | work=Monica Sharma | date=20 January 2017 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref>
| parents = ] (father)
| relatives = ] (brother)
| children =
| birth_name = Siddharth Vashisht
}}
'''Manu Sharma (born 1977)''', born '''Siddharth Vashisht''' and now known as '''Siddharth Sharma''', is an Indian convicted murderer who was imprisoned for the 1999 ]. He was released in June 2020 on grounds of good behaviour. Sharma is the son of the former ] leader, ], and the brother of media baron, ].


Sharma is one of several high-profile criminals brought to trial in India through media activism, with his conviction among those viewed as demonstrating the impact of the general public in correcting imbalances in the Indian legal process.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=12dd04bf-0796-4b52-bf3d-d4a291ebd120&ParentID=63d4699b-619d-49a4-9c0a-4adc214bf63c&&Headline=Courts+see+through+flip-flops+of+witnesses |title=Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses&nbsp;– BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty |date=10 September 2008 |work=] |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125114455/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=12dd04bf-0796-4b52-bf3d-d4a291ebd120&ParentID=63d4699b-619d-49a4-9c0a-4adc214bf63c&&Headline=Courts+see+through+flip-flops+of+witnesses |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>
The acquittal was particularly noteworthy because the murder had been committed in the presence of dozens of people at the bar of the Tamarind Court Cafe restaurant in ]. Most of the witnesses who had
originally claimed to have seen Manu Sharma shoot Jessica
turned ] during the protracted court case, and
it appears likely that the ] related to the spent
shells was doctored by the police, since two cartridges sent for testing
turned out
to have been fired from different guns. In view of the fact that the weapon
was never recovered, other police officers themselves questioned
as to why the bullets were at all sent for testing.


== Personal life ==
Not many people in Chandigarh are surprised at the acquittal of this allegedly
high profile criminal.
Till a few days before the judgement, 29-year-old Manu was seen attending parties in the town, and running his popular disco-cum-pub, Blue Ice, in Chandigarh’s posh Sector 17 market. He has a reputation for throwing well-organised parties in and around the town.


Sharma was born in 1977. His father was a member of parliament in the ] during 1990s, elected on an ] ticket. He was later elected to the Haryana legislature.<ref name="gulf">{{Cite news |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=239728&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |title=Homicide conviction punctures legal armour of India's elite |date=5 September 2008 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607192411/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=239728&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> His uncle is the son-in-law of former ], ].<ref name="hindu1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121911590100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121035413/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121911590100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2010 |title=Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav and Gill convicted in Jessica Lal murder case |date=19 December 2006 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref> The family owns two sugar mills, at ] in ], and Patran in ].<ref name="rediff1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/19jessica.htm |title=It's all silent at Manu Sharma's house |date=19 December 2006 |access-date=18 September 2008 |work=]}}</ref>
The Sharma family is known for manipulating and ‘managing’ things is evident from the fact that though Manu got into several brawls in recent years, the family intervened each time to prevent any case from being registered. A Congress councillor in Chandigarh said that a compromise would be worked out in most cases. Soon after he was released on bail in 2003, there was a fight between employees of Blue Ice and some customers; Manu too was reportedly involved, but eventually, he was taken out of the picture and the disco’s manager was booked instead.


Sharma suffers from ].<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html |title=Wanton Ways |date=30 May 1999 |access-date=18 September 2008 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906195755/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html |archive-date=6 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in ].
Sharma's acquittal has caused outrage in India with calls to the President, ], for the case to be reopened, as it appears to be a clear case of the brazen misuse of power and influence by persons in high places. Even in the
venal atmosphere of the criminal justice system in India where the art of buying/ intimidating/ cajoling witnesses and bribing investigating policemen is well
known, the circumstances are too shocking for words. Very few dared to come forward to depose. The few who did turned hostile. <!-- The clout of the accused can be gauged from the fact that now even advocates <!-- give their opinion on the matter from behind the veil of anonymity.>


On 22 April 2015, Sharma married Preity Sharma, a Mumbai based model. The marriage was delayed due to Sharma's conviction.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-wedding-hush-at-manu-sharmas-house/articleshow/47064946.cms | title=Post wedding, hush at Manu Sharma's house | work=] | date=27 April 2015 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/473942/jessica-lal-killer-manu-sharma.html |title=Jessica Lall murder convict Manu Sharma weds Mumbai woman |last=Varinder Bhatia |date=26 April 2015 |work=] |access-date=27 April 2015}}</ref>
==References==
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</div>
<ref></ref>


== Murder and conviction ==
{{India-bio-stub}}
{{Main|Murder of Jessica Lal}}
]

]
In the late 1990s, Sharma was known to be a regular party-goer in ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40618 |date=11 January 2003 |access-date=18 August 2008 |publisher=India Express|title=City News, Indian City Headlines, Latest City News, Metro City News }}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On 29 April 1999, he was present at a party where an unlicensed bar was operating. Jessica Lal refused to serve him, despite being offered 1000 rupees, and Sharma then fired a .22 pistol and killed her.<ref name="IT">{{Cite news |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/17051999/cover.html |title=Murder of a Model] |date=17 May 1999 |publisher=] |access-date=17 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828034344/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/17051999/cover.html |archive-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=rediffaug /> Sharma was arrested and charged with murder, destruction of evidence and other offences.<ref name="rediffaug">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/03jess.htm |title=Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav charged with Jessica Lal's murder] |date=3 August 1999 |work=]}}</ref> During the trial, 32 witnesses ]. Seven years after the case was opened, on 21 February 2006, Sharma and eight others of the twelve accused were acquitted. The trial judge commented after the outcome that: {{quote|The court has acquitted them because the Delhi police failed to sustain the grounds on which they had built up their case. The police failed to recover the weapon which was used to fire at Jessica Lal as well as prove their theory that the two cartridges, emptied shells of which were recovered from the spot, were fired from one weapon.<ref name="Hindu20060222">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022214170100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225090930/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022214170100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 February 2006 |work=] |title=All accused acquitted in Jessica Lal murder case |date=22 February 2006 }}</ref>}}
]

]
After his acquittal by the trial court, Sharma was ostracized with SMS campaigns being sent out to boycott all establishments owned by the Sharma family.<ref name="shunned">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1436468.cms |title=Manu Sharma&nbsp;– acquitted, but shunned |date=3 March 2006 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref> The acquittal led to widespread public outcry. In March 2006, the case was re-admitted in the ] where it was tried on a fast-track basis. Among the evidence re-introduced were two spent cartridges recovered from Sharma's car; the ballistic analysis for one of which showed it as matching the bullet recovered from Lal's skull.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=203723 |title=Getting Away With Murder: Jessica case: Court comes down hard on witnesses |last=Sharma |first=Tanu |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=15 September 2008 |publisher=]}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> This evidence had been overlooked by the trial court. On 18 December 2006, the High Court ruled Sharma guilty of murdering Jessica Lal and sentenced him to life imprisonment. After conviction, he was imprisoned in the ]. Sharma appealed to the ] through his counsel ]. However, the court upheld his sentence of life imprisonment on 19 April 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=570289 |title=Jessica murder case: SC refuses bail to Manu Sharma |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=18 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911022825/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=570289 |archive-date=11 September 2012 |publisher=Outlook India}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Sharma was incarcerated in the Tihar Jail along with co-accused ] and Amardeep Singh Gill, who had been sentenced for destroying evidence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=15687 |title=Manu wants mattress, heater; sorry, says jail |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref> Along with another high-profile convict, Santosh Kumar Singh, Sharma was involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Relaxed_Manu_helps_inmates_in_Tihar/articleshow/940024.cms |title=Relaxed Manu helps inmates in Tihar |date=27 December 2006 |work=] |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref>

On 24 September 2009, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor granted Sharma 30-day parole from jail on the grounds that he needed to attend to his ailing mother, attend the last rites of his grandmother,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/paroles-ins-and-outs-to-perform-ritual-for/539887/ |title=Parole's ins and outs: to perform ritual for late grandmother, attend to aged mother |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=14 November 2011 |publisher=Indian Express}}</ref> and also look after the family business which was suffering in his absence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-25/delhi/28078425_1_manu-sharma-venod-sharma-parole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025015857/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-25/delhi/28078425_1_manu-sharma-venod-sharma-parole |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-25 |work=] |title=Manu Sharma out on 30 day parole }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jessica-case-hc-to-hear-manus-parole-plea/202038-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115155517/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jessica-case-hc-to-hear-manus-parole-plea/202038-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2011 |title=Jessica case: HC to hear Manu Sharma's parole plea |date=14 November 2011 |access-date=14 November 2011 |publisher=IBN}}</ref> It was later revealed that the parole was granted despite an objection from the Delhi police.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-12/news/27644474_1_manu-sharma-model-jessica-lall-siddharth-vashisht |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606232937/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-12/news/27644474_1_manu-sharma-model-jessica-lall-siddharth-vashisht |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2014 |title=Manu got parole despite Delhi police objection |date=12 November 2009 |work=] |access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref>

In November 2009, Chief Minister ] came under criticism for granting parole to Sharma after media reports of him visiting night clubs in Delhi emerged. During the parole, he got involved in a brawl with the son of police commissioner of Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/delhi/28102367_1_manu-sharma-jessica-lall-parole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103061910/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/delhi/28102367_1_manu-sharma-jessica-lall-parole |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2012 |title=Manu Sharma partying hard, yet CM defends parole |date=10 November 2009 |work=] |access-date=10 November 2009}}</ref> After a public uproar that he violated parole norms, the Delhi Government had to cancel his parole<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/news/28447078_1_manu-sharma-parole-norms-parole-decision |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217145206/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/news/28447078_1_manu-sharma-parole-norms-parole-decision |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2014 |title=Delhi Govt asks police to probe if Manu violated parole norms |date=10 November 2009 |work=] |access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref> and on 10 November 2009, Sharma returned to Tihar Jail.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Manu-Sharma-granted-5-day-parole/Article1-769854.aspx |title=Paroled, reveller Manu Sharma to be out again |date=16 November 2011 |work=] |access-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125075256/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Manu-Sharma-granted-5-day-parole/Article1-769854.aspx |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>

Sharma established the Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust during imprisonment. It is managed by his mother and brother. According to '']'', the Trust is intended to assist causes such as" child education, cancer awareness, rehabilitation of prisoners etc." By July 2011, it had provided assistance to at least 130 children of prison inmates.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/manu-sharmas-trust-showcases-tihar-art-he/814950/ |title=Manu Sharma's trust showcases Tihar art, he talks of misery in jail |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=30 November 2011 |publisher=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Manu-Sharmas-trust-saves-a-3-year-old/articleshow/10063449.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016155518/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-21/people/30183745_1_aiims-life-imprisonment-child-education |url-status=live |archive-date=16 October 2011 |title=Manu Sharma's trust saves a 3-year-old |last=Sharma |first=Suruchi |date=21 September 2011 |work=] |access-date=30 November 2011}}</ref>

Sharma was granted five days' parole in November 2011 to attend the wedding of his younger brother.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/20296-police-oppose-manu-sharmas-parole-plea.html |title=Police oppose Manu Sharma's parole plea |date=14 November 2011 |work=The Pioneer |access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> The parole restricted his movements to the cities of Karnal, Chandigarh, and Ambala, and prevented him from visiting any night club.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jessica-Lal-murder-case-Manu-Sharma-granted-parole-for-five-days/articleshow/10751960.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413055358/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-16/india/30405164_1_30-day-parole-manu-sharma-parole-application |url-status=live |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=Manu Sharma granted parole for five days |date=16 November 2011 |work=] |access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2632562.ece |title=Delhi HC grants parole to Manu Sharma, serving life for Jessica Lal killing |date=16 November 2011 |work=The Hindu |access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref> Sharma was granted nine days parole in December 2013<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jessica-lal-murder-case-manu-sharma-gets-nineday-parole/article5473878.ece |title=Jessica Lal murder case: Manu Sharma gets nine-day parole |date=18 December 2013 |work=] |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> and 30 days on 26 December 2014 to appear for his master's degree exams.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jessica-Lall-murder-case-Manu-Sharma-gets-30-days-parole/articleshow/45651665.cms |title=Jessica Lall murder case: Manu Sharma gets 30 days parole |work=] |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

Considering his good conduct, Sharma was moved to an "open jail" in November 2017 where he was allowed to leave prison everyday and return in evening.<ref>{{Citation |title=Growing Economy work. He lives for another JK days in retirement without his adult life. This we have his death. This consistent upward his adulthood and less rapidly in the later his adulthood while he is |date=2013-05-13 |work=The Growing Economy |pages=196–196 |url=https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203106594-46 |access-date=2025-01-10 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-10659-4}}</ref>

On 2018, Sabrina Lal, the only surviving family member of ] said in a letter to the welfare office of Tihar jail that she had no objection to the release of Manu Sharma as he had spent 15 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/19-years-of-jessica-lall-murder-case-a-look-back/ |title=19 years of Jessica Lall murder case: A look back |date=2018-04-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> On 2 June 2020, Delhi Lieutenant Governor allowed the release of Sharma after a recommendation by the Sentence Review Board (SRB).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=Delhi Lieutenant Governor allows release of Manu Sharma, convicted for killing Jessica Lal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-lieutenant-governor-allows-release-of-manu-sharma-convicted-for-killing-jessica-lal/story-JHu7iQyL3GD6MMGwyeBBkK.html|access-date=2020-06-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The decision was taken by SRB on 13 May 2020 under the chairmanship of Delhi Home Minister, ]. His sentence was supposed to end on 6 May 2023.{{Cn|date=November 2021}}

Sharma was released from imprisonment in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jessica-lall-murderer-manu-sharmas-life-term-ends-after-17-yrs/articleshow/76166298.cms|title=Jessica Lall murderer Manu Sharma's life term ends after 17 yrs|website=Times Of India|accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> After his release Manu Sharma expressed regret in an interview to '']'' for killing Jessica Lal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/deeply-regret-what-happened-21-yrs-ago-manu/articleshow/76204552.cms | title=Deeply regret what happened 21 years ago, says Manu Sharma | publisher=] | work=Abhinav Garg | date=5 June 2020 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref>

== In media ==
*'']'', a 2011 Indian political crime thriller film based on the ] case.

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikinews|New Delhi: Video shows witnesses in the Jessica Lall murder case being bribed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Manu}}
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Latest revision as of 21:38, 11 January 2025

Convicted murderer (born 1977)

Manu Sharma
BornSiddharth Vashisht
1977 (age 47–48)
OccupationPub owner
Criminal statusConvicted
Spouse Preity Sharma ​(m. 2015)​
ParentVenod Sharma (father)
RelativesKartikeya Sharma (brother)
MotiveRefusal to be served alcohol
Conviction(s)18 December 2006
Criminal chargeMurder
PenaltyLife imprisonment; released on 2 June 2020 for good behaviour

Manu Sharma (born 1977), born Siddharth Vashisht and now known as Siddharth Sharma, is an Indian convicted murderer who was imprisoned for the 1999 murder of Jessica Lal. He was released in June 2020 on grounds of good behaviour. Sharma is the son of the former Indian National Congress leader, Venod Sharma, and the brother of media baron, Kartikeya Sharma.

Sharma is one of several high-profile criminals brought to trial in India through media activism, with his conviction among those viewed as demonstrating the impact of the general public in correcting imbalances in the Indian legal process.

Personal life

Sharma was born in 1977. His father was a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha during 1990s, elected on an Indian National Congress ticket. He was later elected to the Haryana legislature. His uncle is the son-in-law of former President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma. The family owns two sugar mills, at Indri in Haryana, and Patran in Punjab.

Sharma suffers from asthma. He completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in Chandigarh.

On 22 April 2015, Sharma married Preity Sharma, a Mumbai based model. The marriage was delayed due to Sharma's conviction.

Murder and conviction

Main article: Murder of Jessica Lal

In the late 1990s, Sharma was known to be a regular party-goer in Delhi. On 29 April 1999, he was present at a party where an unlicensed bar was operating. Jessica Lal refused to serve him, despite being offered 1000 rupees, and Sharma then fired a .22 pistol and killed her. Sharma was arrested and charged with murder, destruction of evidence and other offences. During the trial, 32 witnesses turned "hostile". Seven years after the case was opened, on 21 February 2006, Sharma and eight others of the twelve accused were acquitted. The trial judge commented after the outcome that:

The court has acquitted them because the Delhi police failed to sustain the grounds on which they had built up their case. The police failed to recover the weapon which was used to fire at Jessica Lal as well as prove their theory that the two cartridges, emptied shells of which were recovered from the spot, were fired from one weapon.

After his acquittal by the trial court, Sharma was ostracized with SMS campaigns being sent out to boycott all establishments owned by the Sharma family. The acquittal led to widespread public outcry. In March 2006, the case was re-admitted in the Delhi High Court where it was tried on a fast-track basis. Among the evidence re-introduced were two spent cartridges recovered from Sharma's car; the ballistic analysis for one of which showed it as matching the bullet recovered from Lal's skull. This evidence had been overlooked by the trial court. On 18 December 2006, the High Court ruled Sharma guilty of murdering Jessica Lal and sentenced him to life imprisonment. After conviction, he was imprisoned in the Tihar Jail. Sharma appealed to the Supreme Court of India through his counsel Ram Jethmalani. However, the court upheld his sentence of life imprisonment on 19 April 2010.

Aftermath

Sharma was incarcerated in the Tihar Jail along with co-accused Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill, who had been sentenced for destroying evidence. Along with another high-profile convict, Santosh Kumar Singh, Sharma was involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.

On 24 September 2009, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor granted Sharma 30-day parole from jail on the grounds that he needed to attend to his ailing mother, attend the last rites of his grandmother, and also look after the family business which was suffering in his absence. It was later revealed that the parole was granted despite an objection from the Delhi police.

In November 2009, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit came under criticism for granting parole to Sharma after media reports of him visiting night clubs in Delhi emerged. During the parole, he got involved in a brawl with the son of police commissioner of Delhi. After a public uproar that he violated parole norms, the Delhi Government had to cancel his parole and on 10 November 2009, Sharma returned to Tihar Jail.

Sharma established the Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust during imprisonment. It is managed by his mother and brother. According to The Times of India, the Trust is intended to assist causes such as" child education, cancer awareness, rehabilitation of prisoners etc." By July 2011, it had provided assistance to at least 130 children of prison inmates.

Sharma was granted five days' parole in November 2011 to attend the wedding of his younger brother. The parole restricted his movements to the cities of Karnal, Chandigarh, and Ambala, and prevented him from visiting any night club. Sharma was granted nine days parole in December 2013 and 30 days on 26 December 2014 to appear for his master's degree exams.

Considering his good conduct, Sharma was moved to an "open jail" in November 2017 where he was allowed to leave prison everyday and return in evening.

On 2018, Sabrina Lal, the only surviving family member of Jessica Lal said in a letter to the welfare office of Tihar jail that she had no objection to the release of Manu Sharma as he had spent 15 years in prison. On 2 June 2020, Delhi Lieutenant Governor allowed the release of Sharma after a recommendation by the Sentence Review Board (SRB). The decision was taken by SRB on 13 May 2020 under the chairmanship of Delhi Home Minister, Satyendra Jain. His sentence was supposed to end on 6 May 2023.

Sharma was released from imprisonment in June 2020. After his release Manu Sharma expressed regret in an interview to The Times of India for killing Jessica Lal.

In media

References

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  2. "Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses – BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty". Hindustan Times. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  3. "Homicide conviction punctures legal armour of India's elite". Gulf Times. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
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  8. Varinder Bhatia (26 April 2015). "Jessica Lall murder convict Manu Sharma weds Mumbai woman". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  9. "City News, Indian City Headlines, Latest City News, Metro City News". India Express. 11 January 2003. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  10. "Murder of a Model]". India Today. 17 May 1999. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav charged with Jessica Lal's murder]". Rediff.com. 3 August 1999.
  12. "All accused acquitted in Jessica Lal murder case". The Hindu. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2006.
  13. "Manu Sharma – acquitted, but shunned". Times of India. 3 March 2006. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  14. Sharma, Tanu (4 October 2006). "Getting Away With Murder: Jessica case: Court comes down hard on witnesses". Indian Express. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
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  24. "Paroled, reveller Manu Sharma to be out again". The Hindustan Times. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  25. "Manu Sharma's trust showcases Tihar art, he talks of misery in jail". Indian Express. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  26. Sharma, Suruchi (21 September 2011). "Manu Sharma's trust saves a 3-year-old". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  27. "Police oppose Manu Sharma's parole plea". The Pioneer. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
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  30. "Jessica Lal murder case: Manu Sharma gets nine-day parole". The Hindu. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  31. "Jessica Lall murder case: Manu Sharma gets 30 days parole". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  32. "Growing Economy work. He lives for another JK days in retirement without his adult life. This we have his death. This consistent upward his adulthood and less rapidly in the later his adulthood while he is", The Growing Economy, Routledge, pp. 196–196, 13 May 2013, ISBN 978-0-203-10659-4, retrieved 10 January 2025
  33. "19 years of Jessica Lall murder case: A look back". The Indian Express. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  34. "Delhi Lieutenant Governor allows release of Manu Sharma, convicted for killing Jessica Lal". Hindustan Times. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  35. "Jessica Lall murderer Manu Sharma's life term ends after 17 yrs". Times Of India. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  36. "Deeply regret what happened 21 years ago, says Manu Sharma". Abhinav Garg. The Times of India. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

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