New Delhi, Nov 2: The Delhi High Court today sought the city police stand on a plea for parole by Manu Sharma, who is serving life term in Tihar Jail for killing ramp model Jessica Lall in 1999.
Issuing notice to Delhi Police, a bench of Justice V K Shali sought its reply within a week on Sharma's plea for parole to attend his brother's marriage and related functions scheduled between November 10 and 21.
The court sought police response on Sharma's plea for parole, while referring to his previous conduct, and saying that he had been visiting discotheques, violating the parole conditions on an earlier occasion.
The bench, however, issued notice after his counsel argued that according to the guidelines for granting parole, the conduct of only past one year has to be considered.
Parole is temporary release of a convict from prison prior to the end of the tenure of his sentence, subject to certain conditions.
“Counsel for appellant (Sharma) submits that only conduct of last one year has to be seen for parole as per guidelines. The petitioner's brother is getting married on November 21, and functions start from November 10. Issue notice. Reply within one week,” the bench said.
The court, however, posted the matter for next hearing on November 14 and declined Sharma's plea for an early date saying, “He need not attend all functions”.
Sharma's parole had already been rejected by the administrative side of the high court on October 21.
Sharma was awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in December 2006 for the murder of Lall in 1999. The life term was upheld by the Supreme Court last year.
In September 2009, Sharma was released from jail on a 30-day-parole on the ground that he needed to attend to his ailing mother and perform the rituals following the death of his grandmother.
But, the basis for the parole was proved unfounded as Sharma's grandmother had already died in 2008. During the second extension of the parole for another 30 days, Sharma was seen partying in a discotheque here.
His mother, whose illness was also the basis for the parole, was seen at a media briefing promoting a ladies cricket tournament at Piccadilly - the family-run hotel in Chandigarh.
After an uproar that he violated parole norms, Sharma had to surrender to the jail authority before the expiry of his parole period.
Lall was shot dead by Sharma at the Tamarind Court Cafe restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonnade in South Delhi where she had hosted a party for her Canadian husband George Mailhot.
