This Article is From Nov 13, 2009

Manu Sharma used father's clout?

Manu Sharma used father's clout?
New Delhi: Manu Sharma, the man convicted for the murder of Jessica Lall, went back to jail on Tuesday, two weeks before his parole expires.

But many questions were raised and people wanted to know how he had been able to violate his parole so easily.

Sharma is the son of Congress politician Venod Sharma, whose stature and clout in the party is no secret.

A very wealthy man, with four hotels, a cinema hall and three sugar mills to his name, his properties are estimated to be worth Rs 1,000 crore.

Venod Sharma's father was close to Indira Gandhi. He is also related to late Shankar Dayal Sharma, who was the ninth President of India.

He might be a three-time MLA in the Haryana Assembly, but his political clout goes much beyond.

He is a close friend of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his most trusted aide.

Under Hooda, he was Excise Minister till 2007, a post he gave up after his son Manu Sharma was convicted in the Jessica Lall murder.

He returned to wield his political clout in the October Assembly elections. When the Congress failed to get a majority, it was Venod Sharma who roped in the support of seven Independents.

Many believe, had it not been for his son Manu, Venod could have become chief minister.

Such is his influence that nobody in the Hooda government is willing to comment on Manu Sharma's parole.
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