Jessica Lal murder accused parties, CM defends parole

Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma, who is serving his life sentence at Tihar Jail, was reportedly seen partying at a night club during parole.

Manu had been granted a 30-day parole starting from September 22 on humanitarian grounds as his mother is unwell. The parole was later extended by another thirty days to November 22.

While political circles and legal experts are critical of the government's decision to grant a two-month parole to a murder convict like Manu Sharma, the government defended its call on Monday saying 'parole is the right of any convict'.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said parole was granted under the provisions of law. She said: "The decision was taken by a committee that included the jail superintendent, home secretary, Delhi government, Delhi Police and the Lieutenant Governor."

Manu Sharma's parole was granted on grounds that his mother Shakti Rani Sharma was keeping unwell and that his business was suffering.

But Sharma's mother was seen at a media briefing on Saturday at the family-run hotel in Chandigarh, the Piccadilly Hotel. Rani is the general secretary of the Chandigarh Women's Cricket Association.

Sharma was granted parole on September 22, subsequently extended till November 22. It is understood that Dikshit recommended the extension for the Lieutenant Governor's consideration.

Tihar Jail officials said the jail superintendent first receives the application for parole and forwards it to the government for the final nod.

Jessica Lal was shot dead in a South Delhi bar on April 29, 1999. Manu Sharma was arrested for the crime. Sharma is the son of Haryana Congress politician Vinod Sharma.