SC Upholds Conviction of Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav in Jessica Lall Murder Case

In 1999 Jessica Lall murder case, the Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence awarded on Manu Sharma, son of senior Congress leader and former union minister Vinod Sharma, said media reports.

“The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt the presence of Manu Sharma at the site of the offence,” the apex court said maintaining previous verdict delivered by the Delhi High Court.

A bench of the apex court comprising of Justices P Sathasivam and Swatanter Kumar also maintained the conviction and four-year imprisonment awarded to Vikas Yadav, son of controversial Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav and, Amarjeet Singh Gill, an MNC executive, for the destruction of evidence, reports said.

“The Delhi High Court has given cogent and adequate reasons for reversal of acquittal given by the trial court,” the bench was quoted as saying.

“The presence of accused is proved by ocular evidence of prosecution witnesses,” the Bench was quoted observing while pronouncing the verdict.

The apex court also observed that Manu Sharma’s conduct after the crime proved beyond doubt that he was guilty, said reports.

“The prosecution has established the evidence by recovering the Tata Safari car used by Manu Sharma on the day of offence from Noida.

“An inference can be drawn about his guilt because accused did not lodge any FIR for the theft of his vehicle,” the bench was quoted as saying in its over 250-page judgement.

The apex court said that the high court had rightly convicted and given four years jail sentences to Yadav and Gill for destruction of evidence, reports said.

(Based on internet reports)