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| {{Infobox criminal | {{Infobox criminal | ||
| | name = Siddharth Vashisht |
| name = Siddharth Vashisht | ||
| | image_name = | | image_name = | ||
| | image_size = | | image_size = | ||
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| | death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| | death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| | alias = |
| alias = Siddharth Vashisht | ||
| | charge = Murder | | charge = Murder | ||
| | motive = Refusal to be served alcohol | | motive = Refusal to be served alcohol | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| | occupation = Pub owner | | occupation = Pub owner | ||
| | spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| | parents = ] (father)<br/>Shakti Rani Sharma (mother) | |||
| | children = | | children = | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Siddharth Vashisht''' (born 1977), better known as ''' |
'''Siddharth Vashisht''' (born 1977), better known as '''Siddharth Vashisht''', is a convicted murderer, serving ] for the 1999 murder of model ]. | ||
| Siddharth Vashisht is one of several high-profile criminals brought to trial in India through media activism. Along with that of some other murderers, his conviction is viewed as demonstrating the impact of the general public in correcting imbalances in the Indian legal process.<ref> | |||
| {{cite newspaper |title= Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses - BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty |newspaper=] |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 |date= 10 September 2008 |accessdate= 2008-09-13 }}</ref> | {{cite newspaper |title= Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses - BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty |newspaper=] |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 |date= 10 September 2008 |accessdate= 2008-09-13 }}</ref> | ||
| ==Personal Life== | ==Personal Life== | ||
| Sharma suffers from ] and for this reason was favoured during his childhood.<ref name="indiatoday">{{cite news|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html|title=Wanton Ways|date=30 May 1999|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> He was educated at the elite ] in ]. He then completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in ].<ref name="regular">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990506/ige06079.html|title=Siddharth Vashisht was a regular visitor at Qutab Colonnade|date=6 May 1999|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> Manu initially thought of completing an ], but he joined the family business instead. His father then directed him to manage the family mill at Bhadson in ].<ref name=indiatoday /> | |||
| Sharma suffers from ] and for this reason was favoured during his childhood.<ref name="indiatoday">{{cite news|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html|title=Wanton Ways|date=30 May 1999|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> He was educated at the elite ] in ]. He then completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in ].<ref name="regular">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990506/ige06079.html|title=Manu Sharma was a regular visitor at Qutab Colonnade|date=6 May 1999|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> Manu initially thought of completing an ], but he joined the family business instead. His father then directed him to manage the family mill at Bhadson in ].<ref name=indiatoday /> | |||
| Since the late 1990s, Sharma also built up the Piccadilly hotel chain<ref name="tehelka">{{cite news|url=http://www.tehelka.com/story_main16.asp?filename=Ne030406Manu_Not.asp|title=Manu? Not at home. Probably at his disco-bar|date=4 March 2006|publisher=Tehelka|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> including the Blue Ice pub-cum-discothèque in ] (opened in 2002), and a theatre.<ref name="ex3">{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=63389|title=After bail, it's Blue Ice for Manu Sharma|date=24 February 2006|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> | |||
| ==Murder and conviction== | |||
| {{Main|Murder of Jessica Lal}} | |||
| In the late 1990s, Manu Sharma was known to be a regular party-goer in ].<ref name=regular>{{cite news |publisher=India Express |url= http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40618 |date=11 January 2003|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</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] |publisher=] |date=17 May 1999}}</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] |publisher=] |date=3 August 1999}}</ref> 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 {{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 newspaper |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022214170100.htm |title=All accused acquitted in Jessica Lal murder case |newspaper=The Hindu |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 that the Sharmas had owned.<ref name="shunned">{{cite newspaper|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1436468.cms |title= Manu Sharma - acquitted, but shunned |date=3 March 2006|newspaper=]|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</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 |title= Getting Away With Murder: Jessica case: Court comes down hard on witnesses |first=Tanu |last=Sharma |publisher= ] |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=203723 | |||
| |date =4 October 2006 |accessdate= 2008-09-15}}</ref> This evidence had been overlooked by the trial court. On 18 December 2006, The High Court ruled Manu Sharma guilty of murdering Jessica Lal and sentenced him to life imprisonment. After conviction, Manu was imprisoned in the ]. Sharma appealed to the ] through his counsel ]. However, the Court upheld his sentence of life imprisonment on April 19 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|publisher=Outlook India|accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> | |||
| ==Current status== | ==Current status== | ||
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| {{cite news |title=Manu wants mattress, heater; sorry, says jail |url=http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=15687 |date=20 December 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> Along with another high-profile convict, ], Sharma is involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.<ref>{{cite newspaper |title=Relaxed Manu helps inmates in Tihar | newspaper=] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Relaxed_Manu_helps_inmates_in_Tihar/articleshow/940024.cms |date=27 December 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> | {{cite news |title=Manu wants mattress, heater; sorry, says jail |url=http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=15687 |date=20 December 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> Along with another high-profile convict, ], Sharma is involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.<ref>{{cite newspaper |title=Relaxed Manu helps inmates in Tihar | newspaper=] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Relaxed_Manu_helps_inmates_in_Tihar/articleshow/940024.cms |date=27 December 2006 |accessdate=2008-09-18}}</ref> | ||
| On September 24, 2009 Delhi Lieutenant Governor granted Manu Sharma 30-day parole from jail, on the grounds that Sharma 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 |publisher=Indian Express |date=11 November 2009 |accessdate=2011-11-14}}</ref> and also look after the family business which was suffering in his absence.<ref>{{cite newspaper |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-25/delhi/28078425_1_manu-sharma-venod-sharma-parole |title=Manu Sharma out on 30 day parole |newspaper=Time of India}}</ref> But, the basis for the parole was proved unfounded as Sharma's grandmother had already died in 2008. During the second extension of the parole for another 30 days, Sharma was seen partying in a discothèque in Delhi. His mother, whose illness was also the basis for the parole, was seen at a media briefing promoting a ladies cricket tournament at his family-run hotel in Chandigarh.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jessica-case-hc-to-hear-manus-parole-plea/202038-3.html |title=Jessica case: HC to hear Manu Sharma's parole plea |publisher=IBN |date=14 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-11-14}}</ref> It was also 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 | title=Manu got parole despite Delhi police objection | work=] | date=Nov 12, 2009 | accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In November 2009, Chief Minister ] came under criticism for granting parole to Manu 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 newspaper |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/delhi/28102367_1_manu-sharma-jessica-lall-parole|title=Manu Sharma partying hard, yet CM defends parole|date=10 November 2009|newspaper=Times of India|accessdate=2009-11-10}}</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 | title=Delhi Govt asks police to probe if Manu violated parole norms | work=] | date=Nov 10, 2009 | accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> and on 10 November 2009 Manu returned to Tihar Jail after violation of his parole was confirmed.<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 | work=] | date=November 16, 2011 | accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| While imprisoned Sharma established the Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust, which 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 |publisher=Indian Express |accessdate=2011-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-21/people/30183745_1_aiims-life-imprisonment-child-education |newspaper=Times of India |title=Manu Sharma’s trust saves a 3-year-old |first=Suruchi |last=Sharma |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=2011-11-30}}</ref> | |||
| Sharma was granted five days' parole in November 2011 in order to attend the marriage of his younger brother.<ref>{{cite newspaper |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/20296-police-oppose-manu-sharmas-parole-plea.html |title=Police oppose Manu Sharma's parole plea |newspaper=The Pioneer |date=14 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-11-14}}</ref> The parole restricted his movements to the cities of Karnal, Chandigarh and Ambala and prevented him from visiting any night club.<ref>{{cite newspaper |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-16/india/30405164_1_30-day-parole-manu-sharma-parole-application |title=Manu Sharma granted parole for five days |newspaper=Times of India |date=16 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite newspaper |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2632562.ece |title=Delhi HC grants parole to Manu Sharma, serving life for Jessica Lal killing |newspaper=The Hindu |date=16 November 2011 |accessdate=2011-11-17}}</ref> | |||
| Sharma was granted nine days parole in December 2013 in order to write exams for his master degree.<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=]|accessdate=19 December 2013}}</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 16:30, 5 June 2014
| Siddharth Vashisht | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977 (1977) |
| Other names | Siddharth Vashisht |
| Occupation | Pub owner |
| Criminal status | Convicted |
| Motive | Refusal to be served alcohol |
| Conviction(s) | 18 December 2006 |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Penalty | Life imprisonment |
Siddharth Vashisht (born 1977), better known as Siddharth Vashisht, is a convicted murderer, serving life imprisonment for the 1999 murder of model Jessica Lal.
Siddharth Vashisht is one of several high-profile criminals brought to trial in India through media activism. Along with that of some other murderers, his conviction is viewed as demonstrating the impact of the general public in correcting imbalances in the Indian legal process.
Personal Life
Sharma suffers from asthma and for this reason was favoured during his childhood. He was educated at the elite Mayo College in Ajmer. He then completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in Chandigarh. Manu initially thought of completing an MBA, but he joined the family business instead. His father then directed him to manage the family mill at Bhadson in Karnal.
Current status
Sharma was incarcerated in the Tihar Jail along with the 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 is involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.
See also
No One Killed Jessica - is a 2011 Indian political crime thriller film based on the Murder of Jessica Lal case.
References
- "Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses - BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty". Hindustan Times. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
- ^ "Wanton Ways". India Today. 30 May 1999. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- "Siddharth Vashisht was a regular visitor at Qutab Colonnade". Indian Express. 6 May 1999. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- "Manu wants mattress, heater; sorry, says jail". 20 December 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- "Relaxed Manu helps inmates in Tihar". Times of India. 27 December 2006. Retrieved 2008-09-18.