Search the Internet          Tips

Prime accused denied bail
in Jessica Lal murder case

T L Garg in New Delhi

Citing the "serious nature of the offence and gravity of the allegations," the Delhi high court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Manu Sharma, the prime accused in the murder of model Jessica Lal in 1999.

"The offence is punishable with death and there is a chance that he (Sharma) may jump bail and become unavailable for trial," judge R C Chopra noted in his order.

"Non-recovery of the licensed pistol of the accused which, if recovered, might have conclusively connected him with the crime is a highly incriminating circumstance. The prosecution has collected enough material to show that soon after the incident, every effort was made to get rid of this pistol," Chopra ruled.

Sharma, son of a former minister, allegedly shot dead Lal on April 29, 1999, after she refused to serve him a drink at the Tamarind Court, an illegal bar run by socialite Bina Ramani. Lal was working as a celebrity barmaid.

Nine people are accused in the case. All, except Sharma, are out on bail.

"There is a possibility that in case he is enlarged on bail, he may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses yet to be examined," the judge said.

While directing the trial court to "make every endeavour" to complete the trial within four months, the judge observed that "from the circumstances available on record, it cannot be held that the prosecution has no evidence whatsoever against the petitioner."

Dwelling on the missing pistol, Judge Chopra said there was enough evidence to show that Manu Sharma's uncle, Shyam Sunder Sharma, had "played a pivotal role in concealing it" after he had been handed the weapon by R K Sudan, who has been declared a proclaimed offender in the case.

Police have not been able to question Sudan, who is believed to have fled abroad. Shyam Sunder Sharma is out on bail.

Indo-Asian News Service

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report