New Delhi: A month after murdered model Jessica Lall’s sister Sabrina Lall wrote to Tihar jail authorities that she had “forgiven” her killer Manu Sharma, officials said the convict’s fate will be decided by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal after the jail’s Sentence Review Board (SRB) submits a report.
Sabrina Lall had written a letter to prison Welfare Officer that her family wants to lead a normal life and has no objection if Manu Sharma, sentenced to undergo life imprisonment for murder, is released from the Tihar Central Jail here.
On April 30, 1999, Manu Sharma fatally shot Jessica when she refused to serve him drink well past midnight at a party in south Delhi’s Mehrauli.
The Delhi high court had in December 2006 reversed a trial court acquittal of February 2006 and sentenced Manu Sharma to life term. The Supreme Court two months later upheld the HC verdict.
“I have eradicated all anger within me and want to move ahead to live a normal life. I have no problem if Manu Sharma is released, or whatever deal he gets,” Sabrina said in the letter.
Manu Sharma, son of a former Union Minister and Congress leader Venod Sharma, is lodged in the jail since his conviction.
Jail authorities said about three months ago, Manu Sharma was shifted to the open prison, which he is allowed to leave at 8 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. every day, which can pave way for his final release after 15 years in prison.
Jail officials said the convicts after serving at least 12 years of jail term are first transferred to a semi-open jail and thereafter are eligible for transfer to the open jail.
While semi-open jail inmates are allowed to work and move freely within the jail complex, those in open jail are allowed to go out for work. Both categories of inmates live in rooms instead of barracks.
Sabrina said that she had received a letter from Tihar authorities a month ago in which she was asked if she wished to draw money from the victim’s welfare fund.
“I said that I did not need money, and I had no objection to his release,” she said.