The Delhi High Court Monday reserved till Nov 16 its order on the parole application of Manu Sharma, who is serving a life sentence here for killing ramp model Jessica Lall in 1999. He wants to attend his brother’s marriage.
Parole is the temporary release of a convict from prison before the end of his sentence, subject to certain conditions.
Delhi Police counsel Pawan Sharma did not oppose Sharma’s parole, but told Justice V.K. Shali that they had no objection if he gave an undertaking to the court that he would not leave Karnal and Ambala where the marriage ceremony and the reception were slated to be held Nov 22 and Nov 24, respectively.
Taking note of police submission, Justice Shali reserved the order saying it will pronounce its judgement Nov 16.
Earlier this month, while issuing notice to the police, Justice Shali referred to Manu Sharma’s conduct while on parole, saying that on earlier occasions he visited discotheques, violating the parole conditions.
Sharma’s counsel told the court that according to the guidelines for granting parole, the conduct of only past one year had to be considered.
Police in its affidavit, submitted to the court last week, objected to Sharma’s plea for parole, saying his past conduct did not entitle him to it.
However, in a U-turn Monday, the police did not oppose Sharma’s parole, but told Justice V.K. Shali that they had no objection if he gave an undertaking before attending his brother’s marriage.
Sharma was awarded life imprisonment by the high court in December 2006 for the murder of Lall in 1999. The life term was upheld by the Supreme Court last year.
Lall was shot dead by Sharma at the Tamarind Court restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonnade in south Delhi’s Mehrauli area at a party.
In September 2009, Sharma was released from jail on a 30-day parole to attend to his ailing mother and perform rituals related to the death of his grandmother.
During the second extension of the parole for another 30 days, Sharma was seen partying in a discotheque. His mother, whose illness was one of the reasons for seeking the parole, was seen at a media briefing promoting a cricket tournament at Piccadilly – the family-run hotel in Chandigarh.
Following a public uproar, Sharma had to surrender to the jail authorities before the expiry of his extended parole period.
