Hope he has reformed, says Vidya Balan on Jessica Lal killer Manu Sharma's release

Vidya Balan expressed hope that Jessica Lal's convicted killer, Manu Sharma, had truly reformed as he leaves prison. Sharma was convicted of shooting Jessica in 1999 and sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving 17 years in prison, he has now been released by Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on the recommendation of a Sentence Review Board (SRB) meeting chaired by Delhi's minister of home affairs, Satyendar Jain.  

On hearing the news, Balan spoke to Quint saying, "Personally speaking, I don’t think any amount of time for him or for people like him in jail is enough. So that will always play in my mind. Yes, maybe he has turned a new leaf. I hope he has. I hope he is a reformed person."

The actress played the role of Sabrina Lal, Jessica's sister, in Raj Kumar Gupta's critically acclaimed, No One Killed Jessica (2011). The film won her a Best Actress Filmfare award for her performance. 

The real Sabrina Lal spoke to PTI, echoing Balan's sentiment. Sabrina said, "I really do not have anything to say. I am not feeling anything. I feel numb. The only thing I hope and pray to God is that he never thinks of repeating that mistake again."

Jessica was shot dead at a high society party by Sharma in 1999. After a long running trial, Sharma was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2006.