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- By a Parinda Crime Reporter, February 25, 2006, 12:05 IST
New Delhi: The high court has taken serious note of media reports highlighting police and prosecution failure to put up a credible case in case of Jessica Lal's murder even as the Delhi police are debating whether to appeal against the acquittal of nine accused in the sensational Jessica Lai murder,
A division bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma asked Delhi Police Commissioner KK Paul on Friday to file a reply to reports that police failed to submit concrete evidence before the trial court.
Many witnesses retracted their statements given to the police after the former model was shot dead in the early hours of April 30, 1999, in a posh restaurant run by socialite Bina Ramani in Mehrauli.
The judges expressed surprise at the revelations, which have evoked countrywide outrage against the rich and powerful escaping punishment even in cases of heinous crime. April 19 has been fixed as the date for hearing Paul's reply.
A sessions court on Tuesday acquitted all the accused, including prime accused Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Congress politician Vinod Sharma, and co-accused Vikas Yadav, for lack of evidence.
Jessica, who was tending the bar at Ramani's Tamarind Court restaurant at Qutab Colonnade, was shot because she allegedly refused to serve liquor beyond the closing time.
Terming the high court's notice a ray of hope, Jessica's sister Sabrina Lal said she looks forward to justice now.
Supreme Court lawyer KTS Tulsi termed the notice a damning indictment of the police and said the precedent was set by the Supreme Court in the Best Bakery case.
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