New Delhi: The Supreme Court will pronounce
its verdict on Monday in the Jessica Lall murder case in which
prime accused Manu Sharma has challenged his conviction and
life sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court.
A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Swantanter
Kumar had reserved its verdict on February 18.
Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Manu
Sharma alias Siddharth Vasisth, had assailed the High Court
verdict which had set aside the trial court judgement
acquitting the accused.
He had alleged that the High Court Bench had made up its
mind to hold Sharma guilty.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium had submitted that
there was sufficient evidence against Manu Sharma for his
involvement in the crime.
The prosecution had said Lall was shot dead allegedly
by Manu Sharma at the Tamarind Court Cafe restaurant owned by
socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonade in South Delhi on the
night of April 29, 1999.
The trial court verdict acquitting Sharma on February 21,
2006, was set aside by the High Court on December 18, 2006.
The High Court had held guilty two other accused in the
case -- Vikas Yadav and Amarjeet Singh Gill - for destruction
of evidence. They have also challenged their conviction and
four years` jail sentence.
Manu Sharma is the son of senior Haryana Congress leader
Venod Sharma while Yadav is the son of controversial Uttar
Pradesh politician D P Yadav.
PTI
