{{Short description|Indian convicted murderer (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox criminal | name = Manu Sharma | other_names = | image_name = | image_size = | image_caption = | birth_date = {{bya|1977}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Self employed | employer = Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust | spouse = {{marriage|Preity Sharma |2015}} <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/manu-sharma-gets-april-2015-marriage-registered-at-ut-registrar-s-office/story-uWvNhUlGNn9sRGMmzt0F9L.html#:~:text=Sector%2017%20here.-,Out%20on%20parole%2C%20Sharma%2C%2039%2C%20arrived%20at%20the%20registrar's,the%20slip%20to%20the%20media. | title=Manu Sharma gets April 2015 marriage registered at UT registrar's office | publisher=Hindustan Times | work=Monica Sharma | date=20 January 2017 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref> | parents = Venod Sharma (father) | relatives = Kartikeya Sharma (brother) | children = }} '''Manu Sharma''' (born 1977) is an Indian convicted murderer who was imprisoned for the 1999 murder of Jessica Lal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-06-02 |title=Jessica Lal's murderer Manu Sharma walks out of Tihar jail |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jessica-lal-s-murderer-manu-sharma-walks-out-of-tihar-jail/story-vqmiGQ58U8jZzaJte1Q68H.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204005326/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jessica-lal-s-murderer-manu-sharma-walks-out-of-tihar-jail/story-vqmiGQ58U8jZzaJte1Q68H.html |archive-date=4 December 2021 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref> He was released in June 2020 on grounds of good behaviour. Sharma is the son of the former Indian National Congress leader, Venod Sharma, and the brother of media baron, Kartikeya Sharma.
Sharma is one of several high-profile criminals brought to trial in India through media activism, with his conviction among those viewed as demonstrating the impact of the general public in correcting imbalances in the Indian legal process.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=12dd04bf-0796-4b52-bf3d-d4a291ebd120&ParentID=63d4699b-619d-49a4-9c0a-4adc214bf63c&&Headline=Courts+see+through+flip-flops+of+witnesses |title=Courts see through flip-flops of witnesses – BMW case: Sanjeev Nanda found guilty |date=10 September 2008 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125114455/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=12dd04bf-0796-4b52-bf3d-d4a291ebd120&ParentID=63d4699b-619d-49a4-9c0a-4adc214bf63c&&Headline=Courts+see+through+flip-flops+of+witnesses |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>
He has changed his name and now his official name is Siddharth Sharma.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/manu-sharma/|title=Notorious killer linked to major Scotch whisky development|date=8 December 2024}}</ref> He is behind the brand that manufactures Indri whisky.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />
== Personal life ==
Sharma was born in 1977. His father was a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha during the 1990s, elected on an Indian National Congress ticket. He was later elected to the Haryana legislature.<ref name="gulf">{{Cite news |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=239728&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |title=Homicide conviction punctures legal armour of India's elite |date=5 September 2008 |work=Gulf Times |access-date=18 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607192411/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=239728&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> His uncle is the son-in-law of former President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma.<ref name="hindu1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121911590100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121035413/http://www.hindu.com/2006/12/19/stories/2006121911590100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 November 2010 |title=Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav and Gill convicted in Jessica Lal murder case |date=19 December 2006 |work=The Hindu |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref>
Sharma has asthma.<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite news |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html |title=Wanton Ways |date=30 May 1999 |access-date=18 September 2008 |publisher=India Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906195755/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/31051999/crime.html |archive-date=6 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He completed two years of undergraduate courses in Commerce at a college in Chandigarh.
On 22 April 2015, Sharma married Preity Sharma, a Mumbai based model. The marriage was delayed due to Sharma's conviction.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-wedding-hush-at-manu-sharmas-house/articleshow/47064946.cms | title=Post wedding, hush at Manu Sharma's house | work=The Times of India | date=27 April 2015 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/473942/jessica-lal-killer-manu-sharma.html |title=Jessica Lall murder convict Manu Sharma weds Mumbai woman |last=Varinder Bhatia |date=26 April 2015 |work=Deccan Herald |access-date=27 April 2015}}</ref>
== Murder and conviction == {{Main|Murder of Jessica Lal}}
In the late 1990s, Sharma was known to be a regular party-goer in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=40618 |date=11 January 2003 |access-date=18 August 2008 |publisher=India Express|title=City News, Indian City Headlines, Latest City News, Metro City News }}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On 29 April 1999, he was present at a party where an unlicensed bar was operating. Jessica Lal refused to serve him, despite being offered 1000 rupees, and Sharma then fired a .22 pistol and killed her.<ref name="IT">{{Cite news |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/17051999/cover.html |title=Murder of a Model] |date=17 May 1999 |publisher=India Today |access-date=17 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828034344/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/17051999/cover.html |archive-date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=rediffaug /> Sharma was arrested and charged with murder, destruction of evidence and other offences.<ref name="rediffaug">{{Cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/aug/03jess.htm |title=Manu Sharma, Vikas Yadav charged with Jessica Lal's murder] |date=3 August 1999 |work=Rediff.com}}</ref> During the trial, 32 witnesses turned "hostile". Seven years after the case was opened, on 21 February 2006, Sharma and eight others of the twelve accused were acquitted. The trial judge commented after the outcome that: {{quote|The court has acquitted them because the Delhi police failed to sustain the grounds on which they had built up their case. The police failed to recover the weapon which was used to fire at Jessica Lal as well as prove their theory that the two cartridges, emptied shells of which were recovered from the spot, were fired from one weapon.<ref name="Hindu20060222">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022214170100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225090930/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/22/stories/2006022214170100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 February 2006 |work=The Hindu |title=All accused acquitted in Jessica Lal murder case |date=22 February 2006 }}</ref>}}
After his acquittal by the trial court, Sharma was ostracized with SMS campaigns being sent out to boycott all establishments owned by the Sharma family.<ref name="shunned">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1436468.cms |title=Manu Sharma – acquitted, but shunned |date=3 March 2006 |work=Times of India |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref> The acquittal led to widespread public outcry. In March 2006, the case was re-admitted in the Delhi High Court where it was tried on a fast-track basis. Among the evidence re-introduced were two spent cartridges recovered from Sharma's car; the ballistic analysis for one of which showed it as matching the bullet recovered from Lal's skull.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=203723 |title=Getting Away With Murder: Jessica case: Court comes down hard on witnesses |last=Sharma |first=Tanu |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=15 September 2008 |publisher=Indian Express}}{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> This evidence had been overlooked by the trial court. On 18 December 2006, the High Court ruled Sharma guilty of murdering Jessica Lal and sentenced him to life imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-04-19 |title=Jessica Lall murder: SC upholds Manu Sharma's life sentence |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jessica-lall-murder-sc-upholds-manu-sharmas-life-sentence/articleshow/5830649.cms |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> After conviction, he was imprisoned in the Tihar Jail. Sharma appealed to the Supreme Court of India through his counsel Ram Jethmalani. However, the court upheld his sentence of life imprisonment on 19 April 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=570289 |title=Jessica murder case: SC refuses bail to Manu Sharma |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=18 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911022825/http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=570289 |archive-date=11 September 2012 |publisher=Outlook India}}</ref>
== Aftermath == Sharma was incarcerated in the Tihar Jail along with co-accused Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill, who had been sentenced for destroying the evidence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=15687 |title=Manu wants mattress, heater; sorry, says jail |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref> Along with another high-profile convict, Santosh Kumar Singh, Sharma was involved in helping other prisoners draft legal appeals.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Relaxed_Manu_helps_inmates_in_Tihar/articleshow/940024.cms |title=Relaxed Manu helps inmates in Tihar |date=27 December 2006 |work=Times of India |access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref>
On 24 September 2009, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor granted Sharma 30-day parole from jail on the grounds that he needed to attend to his ailing mother, attend the last rites of his grandmother,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/paroles-ins-and-outs-to-perform-ritual-for/539887/ |title=Parole's ins and outs: to perform ritual for late grandmother, attend to aged mother |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=14 November 2011 |publisher=Indian Express}}</ref> and also look after the family business which was suffering in his absence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-25/delhi/28078425_1_manu-sharma-venod-sharma-parole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025015857/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-25/delhi/28078425_1_manu-sharma-venod-sharma-parole |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-25 |work=The Times of India |title=Manu Sharma out on 30 day parole }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jessica-case-hc-to-hear-manus-parole-plea/202038-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115155517/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jessica-case-hc-to-hear-manus-parole-plea/202038-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2011 |title=Jessica case: HC to hear Manu Sharma's parole plea |date=14 November 2011 |access-date=14 November 2011 |publisher=IBN}}</ref> It was later revealed that the parole was granted despite an objection from the Delhi police.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-12/news/27644474_1_manu-sharma-model-jessica-lall-siddharth-vashisht |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606232937/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-12/news/27644474_1_manu-sharma-model-jessica-lall-siddharth-vashisht |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2014 |title=Manu got parole despite Delhi police objection |date=12 November 2009 |work=Economic Times |access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref>
In November 2009, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit came under criticism for granting parole to Sharma after media reports of him visiting night clubs in Delhi emerged. During the parole, he got involved in a brawl with the son of police commissioner of Delhi.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/delhi/28102367_1_manu-sharma-jessica-lall-parole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103061910/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/delhi/28102367_1_manu-sharma-jessica-lall-parole |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2012 |title=Manu Sharma partying hard, yet CM defends parole |date=10 November 2009 |work=The Times of India |access-date=10 November 2009}}</ref> After a public uproar that he violated parole norms, the Delhi Government had to cancel his parole<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/news/28447078_1_manu-sharma-parole-norms-parole-decision |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217145206/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-11-10/news/28447078_1_manu-sharma-parole-norms-parole-decision |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2014 |title=Delhi Govt asks police to probe if Manu violated parole norms |date=10 November 2009 |work=Economic Times |access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref> and on 10 November 2009, Sharma returned to Tihar Jail.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Manu-Sharma-granted-5-day-parole/Article1-769854.aspx |title=Paroled, reveller Manu Sharma to be out again |date=16 November 2011 |work=The Hindustan Times |access-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125075256/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Manu-Sharma-granted-5-day-parole/Article1-769854.aspx |archive-date=25 January 2013}}</ref>
Sharma established the Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust during imprisonment. It is managed by his mother and brother. According to ''The Times of India'', the Trust is intended to assist causes such as" child education, cancer awareness, [and] rehabilitation of prisoners etc." By July 2011, it had provided assistance to at least 130 children of prison inmates.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/manu-sharmas-trust-showcases-tihar-art-he/814950/ |title=Manu Sharma's trust showcases Tihar art, he talks of misery in jail |date=9 July 2011 |access-date=30 November 2011 |publisher=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Manu-Sharmas-trust-saves-a-3-year-old/articleshow/10063449.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016155518/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-21/people/30183745_1_aiims-life-imprisonment-child-education |url-status=live |archive-date=16 October 2011 |title=Manu Sharma's trust saves a 3-year-old |last=Sharma |first=Suruchi |date=21 September 2011 |work=The Times of India |access-date=30 November 2011}}</ref>
Sharma was granted five days' parole in November 2011 to attend the wedding of his younger brother.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/city/20296-police-oppose-manu-sharmas-parole-plea.html |title=Police oppose Manu Sharma's parole plea |date=14 November 2011 |work=The Pioneer |access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> The parole restricted his movements to the cities of Karnal, Chandigarh, and Ambala, and prevented him from visiting any night club.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jessica-Lal-murder-case-Manu-Sharma-granted-parole-for-five-days/articleshow/10751960.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413055358/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-16/india/30405164_1_30-day-parole-manu-sharma-parole-application |url-status=live |archive-date=13 April 2013 |title=Manu Sharma granted parole for five days |date=16 November 2011 |work=The Times of India |access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2632562.ece |title=Delhi HC grants parole to Manu Sharma, serving life for Jessica Lal killing |date=16 November 2011 |work=The Hindu |access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref> Sharma was granted nine days parole in December 2013<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jessica-lal-murder-case-manu-sharma-gets-nineday-parole/article5473878.ece |title=Jessica Lal murder case: Manu Sharma gets nine-day parole |date=18 December 2013 |work=The Hindu |access-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> and 30 days on 26 December 2014 to appear for his master's degree exams.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jessica-Lall-murder-case-Manu-Sharma-gets-30-days-parole/articleshow/45651665.cms |title=Jessica Lall murder case: Manu Sharma gets 30 days parole |work=The Times of India |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
Considering his good conduct, Sharma was moved to an "open jail" in November 2017 where he was allowed to leave prison everyday and return in evening.<ref>{{Citation |title=Growing Economy work. He lives for another JK days in retirement without his adult life. This we have his death. This consistent upward his adulthood and less rapidly in the later his adulthood while he is |date=2013-05-13 |work=The Growing Economy |pages=196 |url=https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203106594-46 |access-date=2025-01-10 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9780203106594-46 |doi-broken-date=1 July 2025 |isbn=978-0-203-10659-4|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
On 2018, Sabrina Lal, the only surviving family member of Jessica Lal said in a letter to the welfare office of Tihar jail that she had no objection to the release of Manu Sharma as he had spent 15 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/19-years-of-jessica-lall-murder-case-a-look-back/ |title=19 years of Jessica Lall murder case: A look back |date=2018-04-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> On 2 June 2020, Delhi Lieutenant Governor allowed the release of Sharma after a recommendation by the Sentence Review Board (SRB).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-02|title=Delhi Lieutenant Governor allows release of Manu Sharma, convicted for killing Jessica Lal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-lieutenant-governor-allows-release-of-manu-sharma-convicted-for-killing-jessica-lal/story-JHu7iQyL3GD6MMGwyeBBkK.html|access-date=2020-06-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The decision was taken by SRB on 13 May 2020 under the chairmanship of Delhi Home Minister, Satyendra Jain. His sentence was supposed to end on 6 May 2023.{{Cn|date=November 2021}}
Sharma was released from imprisonment in June 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jessica-lall-murderer-manu-sharmas-life-term-ends-after-17-yrs/articleshow/76166298.cms|title=Jessica Lall murderer Manu Sharma's life term ends after 17 yrs|website=Times Of India|accessdate=3 June 2020}}</ref> After his release Manu Sharma expressed regret in an interview to ''The Times of India'' for killing Jessica Lal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/deeply-regret-what-happened-21-yrs-ago-manu/articleshow/76204552.cms | title=Deeply regret what happened 21 years ago, says Manu Sharma | publisher=The Times of India | work=Abhinav Garg | date=5 June 2020 | accessdate=24 June 2021}}</ref>
After release, he is involved in Indri whisky.<ref name="auto"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://hindustanherald.in/indri-whisky-manu-sharma-unequal-justice-question/|title=Indri Whisky and India’s Unequal Justice: Why Manu Sharma’s Return Should Worry Us - Hindustan Herald|first=Ananya|last=Sharma|date=21 October 2025}}</ref>
== In media == *''No One Killed Jessica'', a 2011 Indian political crime thriller film directed by Rajkumar Gupta starring Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji, based on the Murder of Jessica Lal case.
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Wikinews|New Delhi: Video shows witnesses in the Jessica Lall murder case being bribed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Manu}} Category:1977 births Category:Drinking establishment owners Category:Living people Category:People from Chandigarh Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by India Manu Sharma Category:Indian people convicted of murder Category:People convicted of murder by India Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail Category:1999 murders in India Category:20th-century Indian murderers