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Jessica Lall murder: HC asks government to take call on Manu Sharma’s premature release (Lead)
New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to grant relief to Siddharth Vashisht, alias Manu Sharma, the main culprit in the Jessica Lall murder case, directing the Delhi government instead to reconsider his premature release plea in the Sentence Review Board (SRB) meeting in March.
Manu Sharma, son of former Union Minister Venod Sharma, was sentenced to life for killing Jessica Lall in 1999.
The trial court had acquitted him, but the High Court reversed the verdict and convicted him while the Supreme Court upheld the life sentence in April 2010.
Justice Najmi Waziri while disposing of the plea, granted liberty to Manu Sharma to file an application after the SRB decides the issue in its March meeting.
Delhi government’s standing counsel Rahul Mehra told the court that the SRB quarterly conducts a review meeting on premature release of the convicts, and that the next meeting would be held in March.
He assured the court that it will consider Sharma’s plea in the next meeting.
The court asked the board to consider the convict’s conduct as Manu Sharma counsel, senior advocate Salman Khurshid and advocate Amit Sahni informed the bench that Sharma’s conduct has remained good in prison and while on bail, parole or furlough.
The court was hearing the plea filed by Manu Sharma through advocate Amit Sahni.
Sharma has sought setting aside of government order of December 7, 2018, which has upheld recommendation rejecting his plea seeking pre-mature release.
On October 4, 2018 the SRB had recommended rejecting Manu Sharma’s plea.
Sharma told the court that on December 21, another bench of the Delhi High Court ordered to release former Youth Congress leader Sushil Kumar Sharma, who is serving a life term in the 1995 murder of his wife Naina Sahni, while quashing the Sentence Review Board order rejecting his premature release.
Khurshid told the court that the plea was rejected merely on the ground of gravity and perversity of the crime committed by Manu Sharma.
In his plea, Manu Sharma said all the reports received from various authorities, including jail department, police and social welfare department of the government, have recommended his premature release but the state government had failed to appreciate it.
There was no adverse report against Manu Sharma, the advocate told the court.
He also told the court that his plea was rejected thrice despite his good conduct in jail, affirmative attitude towards own reform and reformative activities being run in jail.
Mehra also told the court that new Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018 came into effect from January 1, 2019 and that Manu Sharma’s case would be reconsidered under the new rules when the SRB holds its next meeting.
Khurshid told the court that Manu Sharma has undergone 21 years one month and six days of imprisonment, including remission. He said he was eligible for premature release.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.