Jessica Lal case: Manu Sharma convicted

New Delhi, Dec 18: The Delhi High Court today convicted prime accused Manu Sharma in the murder of model Jessica Lall in a bar here on April 20, 1999.

A Division Bench of Justices R S Sodhi and P K Bhasin convicted Manu, son of former Haryana Minister Venod Sharma, under sections 302 (culpable homicide amounting to murder) and section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.

The sentence is likely to be announced on Wednesday.

The court also convicted Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member D P Yadav, and 'Tony' Gill of the charges against them under section 201.

The judgement was on an appeal by the Delhi Police, which challenged the acquittal of Manu, Yadav, Gill, former cricketer Yograj Singh and six others by a sessions court.

The court had reserved its order on November 29 after the conclusion of arguments by both the prosecution, led by Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam and Mukta Gupta, and the defence by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani.

Jessica was shot dead by Manu Sharma at socialite Bina Ramani's Tamarind Court in south Delhi restaurant on the night of April 20, 1999 when she refused to serve him a drink.

UNI

Related Stories
Jessica case: Police submits status report
Jessica case: Malini permitted to go abroad by HC
Kalam receives viewers' petition in Jessica Lal murder case
''Tall Sikh'' shot Jessica, not Manu says Jethmalani
Jethmalani wants Jessica case transferred to another court