Manu Sharma got parole because of high connections,influence: High Court

“This court has no doubt that the department (Home) has been giving parole to some convicts because of the high connections and influence. No doubt one such case is that of Manu Sharma,” Justice Kailash Gambhir wrote in his order.

The court was hearing a complaint from convict Sumedh Singh about how his parole application has been pending for over three months.

At the start of the hearing today,Justice Gambhir specifically asked police counsel Meera Bhatia to point out the name of Manu Sharma from a list of 372 convicts who had applied for parole till date. When shown that Manu’s application was numbered 245,Justice Gambhir remarked that “this application has been disposed off a lot quicker than the rest”.

Later,in his written order too,he noted that Manu’s application was disposed off with “utmost promptitude” while others have to wait for at least three to four months.

In his affidavit,B M Jain,Deputy Secretary (Home),Delhi Government,said 72 convicts have been granted parole from January 1,2009 to November 18. He said his department rejected 202 parole applications,while 98 others are under consideration and 14 prisoners have “jumped parole” and are still absconding.

“The list portrays a dismal picture of apathy,least priority is given to parole applications,” the court observed.

Jain explained in his affidavit that extreme caution is taken to check if the convict would pose a threat or commit crimes if he is let out on parole,and so the delay in submitting police verification reports. A draft of revised guidelines on parole conditions in Delhi has been approved by the government and will be placed before the High Court on November 25,he said.

The Bench gave the police 10 days to dispose off parole applications in which police verification reports are ready.

For convicts who are from other states or whose verification reports are yet to arrive,the court ordered the Home department to immediately inform the Commissioner of Police,who will get in touch with his counterparts in the respective states. All this has to be done within 10 days.

“It is directed that all pending parole applications are to be finally decided by the government within 15 days to one month from this order today,” the Bench ordered.