New Delhi: Seven years of arguments, botched evidence and nearly all the witnesses turning hostile later, the main accused in the case - Manu Sharma - and seven others were acquitted by a Delhi Court on Tuesday.
An outraged nation cried foul when they heard what was surely the cruellest verdict in recent history.
Life had come to a standstill for the Lall's after Jessica was murdered in cold blood at a high-profile bar in South Delhi.
More tragedies followed soon after. Jessica's mother died of cancer in 2002 and her father suffered a stroke two months later. Today, he suffers from amensia and is unable to remember much of the incident.
For Jessica's sister, Sabrina, the verdict was not unexpected as the case had been going "from bad to worse".
She said she was not shocked - just helpless. The prosecution was unable to provide sufficient evidence to link the accused to the murder.
Here are some representative responses from the readers of ibnlive.com.
Shravan, a reader, says, "This has proved that we are still living in a society where 'might is right'. Justice is in the pocket of big and important people. Murders take place at public place and no one claims to see them. People need to wake up and understand that this is not the story of masala Hindi movie but the bitter truth."
Most of the comments expressed the outrage of readers, who were shocked at the cold verdict in a case that was supposedly an open and shut case of a politician's son having shot a bartender for not being served a glass of whiskey.
Another reader Arun wrote, "The verdict is completely expected. When 99 out of 100 witnessed turn hostile,what can the court do? The accused are proclaimed as innocent as newborns! When the families of politicians are involved, you can bet that you have lost the case. Our politicians are molesting our system day by day and we the people are just spectators for this,where will this end? Who has the guts to break the nexus between rich politicians and the law enforcing authority?"
Ajju writes, "Who killed Jessica if Manu did not ? There is no doubt that the body was found with a bullet in her head, no doubt that she was rushed to the hospital and declared dead on arrival. But somebody should have killed her (if Manu did not). I hope that the judiciary is not just interested in acquitting the honourable Mr Manu, but will also take the onus of finding out who murdered Jessica (that is if Manu did not). We Indians should not accept these ridiculous judgments lying down and not bother to find out who the real killer is (that is if Manu did not kill her)..."
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Says Rajeev, "You've got a License to kill, rape etc. If you are rich and have contacts with politicians. And be sure, you will get aways with any crime. Nothing can stop you. India needs a revolution to clean up the society, otherwise, we will keep posting such news about criminals getting away without punishment. Sad day for this country indeed."
Going by the response, most of the people are of the view that if one is rich and linked to politicians in India, then they can get away with anything. The comments are a mixture of anger, helplessness and a strong desire to change the system.
Others are angered but like Jessica's sister Sabrina, unsurprised at the verdict.
According to Rituparna Majumdar, "I am sad but not surprised that Manu Sharma has been let off!!Indian Judicial system needs to be amended from time to time. In the US there is time frame in which a trial has to get over and a jury system. Why can't India have such system? I am so angry today after hearing the case verdict! It makes me feel that money and power rules over conscience in our Indian society. I am 100 percent sure now that Vikas Yadav will go scott free in Nitish Kataria case as well because "papa's money and power will save him". It does not matter if an innocent life has been lost."
Says Sushmito, "Not surprising at all. Have we ever seen any rich and powerful punished for any guilt? If you have any such information, you should telecast in your channel; it may bring back the confidence of the people on law implementing agency and judiciary."
And an NRI had to say this - "Proud to be an Indian? After reading this news item - NO! It seems like a disgrace, being associated with a country which dishes out pure injustice in the name of justice. I feel thankful in such moments that I am out of my country and encourages me to get all my relatives out from there, for who knows when one spoilt brat, related to a politician, and minting tonnes of money, decides to be trigger-happy and shoot someone again...yes, the vicitm could be someone from my family and what will I get after seven long years....no justice."
The responses more or less ridiculed the justice system in India that allows the rich to walk scot free and get away with even murder.
Even as the accused (who shot Jessica Lall in a crowded bar where there were probably hundreds of witnesses) are set free, the court is making no attempt to find out who actually murdered the model and socialites who run illegal party haunts roam around freely.
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