Delhi govt asks police to probe if Manu violated parole norms

Faced with severe criticism for recommending release of Jessica Lall murder case convict Manu Sharma on parole, Delhi government today asked police to conduct a thorough probe on whether he violated the parole norms by moving out of Chandigarh and paying a visit here.

A top Delhi government official said as per the parole norms, Sharma should not have been present in Delhi as he was given parole under the condition that he will visit Chandigarh to meet his "ailing" mother.

"We have sought a detailed report from Delhi police about whether Sharma visited the city," the official said.

Asked whether government also wants to know if he visited night clubs in this city, the official said it is immaterial for the government as the parole condition restricts him from coming to Delhi.

Sharma is serving life sentence at Tihar jail for killing model Lall on April 29, 1999 at the Tamarind Court Bar owned by socialite Bina Ramani.

The parole decision has kicked up a storm as Sharma had sought release from jail citing the ill-health of his mother Shaktirani Sharma and he was allegedly seen in a night club.

The request for a two-month parole, which ends on November 22, had come from Sharma's family, citing "illness" of Manu's mother.