Jessica Lall's murderer Manu Sharma seeks parole to appear for post graduate exams in human rights

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the city police on the parole plea of Siddharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma, who is undergoing life term for killing Jessica Lall in 1999, to appear for his exams in post-graduation in Human Rights. The exams are likely to commence from June 19.

A vacation bench of Justice Gita Mittal issued a notice to the city police, seeking its response by June 16. The court also said Sharma should have moved the court earlier.

In response to this, Sharma's counsel submitted a representation was moved before Delhi government on May 14 but its rejection was communicated to him only on June 6 after which the high court was approached with the plea.

Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing ramp model Jessica Lall in 1999. Reversing the trial court's acquittal order, the Delhi High Court awarded life sentence to him in December, 2006 in the murder case and the Supreme Court had upheld the high court order against him in April, 2010.

Lall was shot dead by Sharma after she had refused to serve him liquor at the Tamarind Court restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonnade in south Delhi's Mehrauli locality.

Sharma has been pursuing the course from Indian Institute of Human Rights which is recognised by the United Nations. 

Meanwhile, Delhi Police, in its status report submitted in pursuant to the court's order, opposed the month-long duration of the parole saying not even six months have passed since he was granted a relief on similar grounds in December 2013.

It said if he knew he had to give exams as well as present his thesis in June, he should not have availed a two-week long furlough in February this year. Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Jessica Lall in 1999.

Reversing the trial court's acquittal order, the Delhi High Court had awarded life sentence to him in December 2006 in the murder case and the Supreme Court had upheld the high court order against him in April 2010.

Lall was shot dead by Sharma after she had refused to serve him liquor at the Tamarind Court restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonnade in south Delhi's Mehrauli.