We did not recommend parole for Manu Sharma: Police Chief

Delhi Police Commissioner Y. S. Dadwal on Friday said the police had not recommended to the Delhi Government to grant parole to Manu Sharma, who %is serving life imprisonment in the Jessica Lall murder case.

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justice A. P. Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar had pulled up the State Government recently for granting parole to Manu Sharma and sitting over the pleas of under-privileged prisoners.

Asked for his response at a press conference here, the Police Commissioner said granting parole was a policy matter of the State Government.

Stating that the police had not recommended parole to Manu Sharma, Mr. Dadwal said the State Government routinely asks for a police report on parole matters. “However, the final decision is taken by the Government,” he added.

Manu Sharma was initially granted a one-month parole on the plea that his mother was ill and that he had to take care of his family business. His parole was then extended for a month.

However, he “surrendered” before the jail authorities 12 days before his parole period was to expire after questions were raised over the reasons cited for the parole, and also after he was spotted at a night club.