Manu and Sushil Sharma, from notorious murderers to 'model prisoners'
Top officials are meeting this afternoon to decide the fate of Manu Sharma, the notorious murderer of Jessica Lall, and former Youth Congress president Sushil Sharma, the criminal in the 'tandoor murder' case. These two and 88 other prisoners will be reviewed by a judge, a top cop, the Delhi home minister and four senior government officials, who'll decide if they should be released.
Manu, son of former Haryana minister Venod Sharma, shot dead Jessica, celebrity bartender, at a private party on April 29-30, 1999, for refusing to serve him a drink. He has been in prison for over 15 years. Sushil murdered his estranged wife Naina Sahni on July 2, 1995, then burnt her body in a 'tandoor.' He has been imprisoned for 23 years.
According to jail-officials, both the Sharmas have become "model prisoners" due to their good conduct. Manu, through his Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust, finances tuitions and uniforms for 700 children of underprivileged prisoners. Jessica's sister Sabrina said she too has heard about his reformation through a common friend. Apparently, "Manu is looking after prisoners in jail and also helping them legally and their families financially."
Sabrina has already given her approval for his release. "I have let go of the anger within me. I need to move on and get rid of this baggage. I have no problems if he is released or whatever deal he gets," she had said.
"Bade bhai" Sushil is also helping prisoners in his own way. He has been appointed a prisoner-officer in the public relation office, and helps facilitate inmates' meetings with their relatives. In fact, he's in 'semi-open jail' and can move around the prison premises. Manu is in 'open jail,' where he's allowed to leave the prison complex for the day and do social work outside.
Sushil's mother didn't comment much. "He is our only son. We have spent 23 years without him. He has served more than his sentence," she said.
The fate of these 90 prisoners, which include murder convicts Sikander Singh, Om Singh, Jaswinder Singh Jassa and Shashi Shekher, will be decided by the seven officials of the Sentence Review Board. After they decide, the recommendations will be sent to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who will sign the release orders, if any.
