SC notices on petition filed by Manu Sharma in Jessica case

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to Delhi government and Delhi police on a petition filed by Siddharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma, main accused in Jessica Lal murder case facing life imprisonment, seeking suspension of his sentence and his release on bail.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendaran also issued notice on bail applications of Amandeep Singh Gill alias Tony Gill who has been sentenced to four years imprisonment in the case for destruction of evidence.

The court also issued notice on the application of another convict in the case Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member D P Yadav , seeking stay of his conviction to contest forthcoming assembly elections in UP.

The court will hear the application of Vikas Yadav on March 19 while the petitions of other convicts namely Manu Sharma and Gill will be heard in the first week of April.

The court also admitted the appeal of Manu Sharma and Gill against their conviction and sentence.

The acquittal of all the nine accused by the trial Judge S L Bahayana, who was elevated to Delhi court within a week of the verdict, had lead to widespread public outcry .

President A P J Abdul Kalam has returned the file to the government to reconsider the issue of confirmation of Justice bahayana as high court judge in view of the strictures passed against him by Delhi High Court while reversing the order of acquittal.

Jessica Lal was shot dead on April 30, 1999 for refusing to serve liquor at odd hours at night, by Manu Sharma, son of former Haryana minister Vinod Sharma.

The High Court convicted three accused while six others were let off due to lack of evidence.

UNI