In a significant move, the Delhi Government has decided to free 44 life convicts who have spent over 14 years in jail, while rejecting the plea of former Congress leader Sushil Sharma, convicted of murdering his wife Naina Sahni and trying to burn her body in a tandoor in 1995.
Sharma, a former president of the Delhi Youth Congress, was sentenced to death but was later commuted to life. The murder infamously know as ‘Tandoor Murder’ has shook the conscience of people as the accused person had tried to burn the body of his wife in the Tandoor of Baghia restaurant at Ashoka Road.
The Sentence Reviewing Board (SRB), chaired by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain had received petitions from 50 life convicts, including Sharma, and decided to release 44 inmates. lt-Governor Najeeb Jung has given his nod to the SRB’s recommendations, said a senior official.
In September this year, Sharma, who is in jail for the last 20 years in the case, was released on parole by the Delhi High Court. While granting him parole, the court had said till his plea seeking remission and premature release has been decided by the competent authority he would remain out of jail.
Justice Siddharth Mridul had ordered his release observing that he has been in jail for over 20 years and that parole was a matter of his right. “Out of 50 cases, the SRB has recommended to release 44 life convicts who have spent more than 14 years in jail. The Board has rejected four applications for premature release including that of Sushil Kumar Sharma,” the official said, adding the SRB has deferred decision on two cases.
Constituted in 2004, the Sentence Reviewing Board is chaired by the Delhi Home Minister and decided the pleas of convicts and other related issues. Representatives of Tihar jail and the Delhi Police are members of the board. “Before taking the decision on premature release of life convicts, the Board examines the records of those who have spent over 14 years in jail and whether they are still a threat to law and order,” the official said.