Siddharth Vashishtha better is known as Manu Sharma, who was serving life imprisonment in the much-publicized 1999 Jessica Lal Murder Case has been released from Tihar jail on grounds of good behavior, on the recommendation of the Sentence Reviewing Board (SRB). His term was scheduled to get over on May 6, 2023. The sources said the recommendation was made at a meeting of the SRB chaired by Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain on May 11.
Siddharth shot dead Jessica after she had refused to serve him liquor at Tamarind Court restaurant at Qutub Colonnade in South Delhi’s Mehrauli on the night of April 30, 1999. Vidya Balan who essayed the role of Sabrina Lal, sister of Jessica Lal in “No one killed Jessica”, a movie released in 2011 depicting the struggle and sacrifices of Sabrina Lal to seek justice for his sister Jessica, reacted to the news of the release of Manu Sharma.
While talking to The Quint she revealed the, “Personally speaking, I don’t think any amount of time for him or for people like him in jail is enough. So that will always play in my mind”. The actress further stated that “Yes, maybe he has turned a new leaf. I hope he has. I hope he is a reformed person.” The Kahani actor also went on to add “So that’s all one can hope you know, after spending so much time in jail. That is the point of being in prison, right? That you reform.
So let us hope that has happened.” No one killed Jessica Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherjee starring this movie hit screen in January 2011. Vidya Balan essayed the role of Sabrina Lal, sister of Jessica Lal while Rani Mukherjee played the role of a fiery TV reporter. The movie highlights the struggle and sacrifices which her sister had to go through and the part which the media played for bringing her justice. Although the film was based on a true story, yet it is not a documentary since fictional incidents have been added to the sensitivity of the issue.
Ashi Dwivedi
(2nd year)
Banaras Hindu University
Fatehpur (U.P) Ashi is an ambitious and hardworking girl. She is a prolific reader and very passionate about writing.
