New Delhi:
The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its verdict in the Jessica Lall murder case today in which prime accused Manu Sharma has challenged his conviction and life sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court.
A Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Swantanter Kumar had reserved its verdict on February 18.
Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for Manu Sharma alias Siddharth Vasisth, had assailed the High Court verdict which had set aside the trial court judgement acquitting the accused.
He had alleged that the High Court Bench had made up its mind to hold Sharma guilty.
Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium had submitted that there was sufficient evidence against Manu Sharma for his involvement in the crime.
The prosecution had said Lall was shot dead by Manu Sharma at the Tamarind Court Cafe restaurant owned by socialite Bina Ramani at Qutub Colonade in South Delhi on the night of April 29, 1999.
A trial court had acquitted Sharma on February 21, 2006. This led to a huge public outcry. The Delhi High Court took suo moto notice of the acquittal and reopened the case after an appeal by the Delhi Police. Charging Manu with murder, destroying evidence and under Arms Act, the Delhi High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Sharma challenged the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.
The High Court had held two other accused in the case - Vikas Yadav and Amarjeet Singh Gill - guilty of destruction of evidence. They have also challenged their conviction and four-year jail sentence.
Manu Sharma is the son of senior Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma while Yadav is the son of controversial Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav.