On Tuesday, February 21, 2006 (New Delhi): After a seven-year-long trial, all nine accused in the Jessica Lal murder case have been acquitted by a Delhi court.
Additional Sessions Judge SL Bhayana acquitted prime accused Manu Sharma, son of former union minister Vinod Sharma.
Other high profile accused that have been let off are Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member DP Yadav, and Yograj Singh, father of cricketer Yuvraj Singh. Shyam Sunder Sharma, son-in-law of former president SD Sharma, Amardeep Singh, Vikas Gill, Harvinder, Raja Chopra and Alok Khanna have also been given a clean chit.
'Expected judgement'
Reacting to the order, Jessica's family said they had expected that the accused would eventually be acquitted.
The victim's family struggled against a system that was not keen to pursue the case right from the start.
The model was shot in the head at point blank range in the early hours of April 30, 1999 at socialite Bina Ramani's Tamarind Court restaurant in the Capital.
The prosecution argued that though statements of witnesses established that the accused were present at the party, they subsequently denied it.
The witnesses included Deepak Bhojwani, Bina Ramani, her husband George Mailhot and daughter Malini.
Clear divide
Many believe the case is a classic example of the rich and powerful getting away with murder.
In fact in May 1999, the Delhi High Court came down heavily on the city police for carrying out a shoddy investigation.
Accusations of harassing witnesses and tampering with evidence have flown thick and fast all along and the divide was clear too.
On the one hand, an average middle class family begging for justice and on the other, the sons of the rich and powerful.
But observers point out that perhaps nowhere was this divide more clear than in the acquittal of all nine accused.
Public outrage is building up across the country over the acquittal of all the nine accused in the Jessica Lal murder case. The Delhi High Court has already taken suo moto cognizance of the issue and sought a detailed report on the case from Police Commissioner KK Paul.
While the government has chosen to keep quiet, the opposition BJP has called for amendments to ensure punishment for witnesses who turn hostile.
Three key witnesses in the Jessica Lal murder case had turned hostile.
"In the last days of the NDA government, we had introduced a criminal law amendment in the Parliament. After the change of government the amendment was accepted but that part of the proposal was not accepted.
"I think the suggestions should be given another look and this may be an important case to highlight that," said Arun Jaitley, BJP leader.
Every one Please Post Your view on this issue...
Case Sheet
=========
April 1999: Jessica Lal allegedly murdered by Manu Sharma
May 2001: Key witness and struggling model Shyan Munshi, turns hostile
July 2001: Malini Ramani identifies Manu Sharma as the man harassing Jessica at the party
Aug 2001: Delhi High Court denies Manu Sharma bail
Oct 2001: Socialite Bina Ramani identifies Manu Sharma in court
Jan 2002: Manu Sharma gets bail
Feb 2006: Delhi court acquits all nine accused in the case
Additional Sessions Judge SL Bhayana acquitted prime accused Manu Sharma, son of former union minister Vinod Sharma.
Other high profile accused that have been let off are Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member DP Yadav, and Yograj Singh, father of cricketer Yuvraj Singh. Shyam Sunder Sharma, son-in-law of former president SD Sharma, Amardeep Singh, Vikas Gill, Harvinder, Raja Chopra and Alok Khanna have also been given a clean chit.
'Expected judgement'
Reacting to the order, Jessica's family said they had expected that the accused would eventually be acquitted.
The victim's family struggled against a system that was not keen to pursue the case right from the start.
The model was shot in the head at point blank range in the early hours of April 30, 1999 at socialite Bina Ramani's Tamarind Court restaurant in the Capital.
The prosecution argued that though statements of witnesses established that the accused were present at the party, they subsequently denied it.
The witnesses included Deepak Bhojwani, Bina Ramani, her husband George Mailhot and daughter Malini.
Clear divide
Many believe the case is a classic example of the rich and powerful getting away with murder.
In fact in May 1999, the Delhi High Court came down heavily on the city police for carrying out a shoddy investigation.
Accusations of harassing witnesses and tampering with evidence have flown thick and fast all along and the divide was clear too.
On the one hand, an average middle class family begging for justice and on the other, the sons of the rich and powerful.
But observers point out that perhaps nowhere was this divide more clear than in the acquittal of all nine accused.
Public outrage is building up across the country over the acquittal of all the nine accused in the Jessica Lal murder case. The Delhi High Court has already taken suo moto cognizance of the issue and sought a detailed report on the case from Police Commissioner KK Paul.
While the government has chosen to keep quiet, the opposition BJP has called for amendments to ensure punishment for witnesses who turn hostile.
Three key witnesses in the Jessica Lal murder case had turned hostile.
"In the last days of the NDA government, we had introduced a criminal law amendment in the Parliament. After the change of government the amendment was accepted but that part of the proposal was not accepted.
"I think the suggestions should be given another look and this may be an important case to highlight that," said Arun Jaitley, BJP leader.
Every one Please Post Your view on this issue...
Case Sheet
=========
April 1999: Jessica Lal allegedly murdered by Manu Sharma
May 2001: Key witness and struggling model Shyan Munshi, turns hostile
July 2001: Malini Ramani identifies Manu Sharma as the man harassing Jessica at the party
Aug 2001: Delhi High Court denies Manu Sharma bail
Oct 2001: Socialite Bina Ramani identifies Manu Sharma in court
Jan 2002: Manu Sharma gets bail
Feb 2006: Delhi court acquits all nine accused in the case
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