Out of Tihar

Sharma’s exit from the DG’s office gate was unexpected,as even the guards posted at the gate had no information about his movement from this access point.

Seeing a few lensmen waiting outside the DG’s office gate,the guards posted there came out to enquire,and claimed that there was no information about Sharma’s exit from this gate. While the conversation was taking place,the white Santro,trailed by another car,honked at the gate. As the car tried to maneuver its way out,the lensmen blocked its way,waving at Sharma and knocking on the windows asking for a byte; a composed Sharma looked away. The cars soon sped away.

Jail authorities said after a despatch rider brought the High Court order this evening and all formalities were completed,Sharma was released. His wife,Madhu,arrived with the despatch rider,and entered through gate number 3. It was perhaps after seeing the media presence at the gate that she asked for a different exit point for Sharma.

While Sharma was let out of the jail premises on custody-parole in April 2003 for five days to attend his daughter’s wedding,and for one hour in July 2004 to perform ‘rasam pagri’ after his mother’s death. On Wednesday,he drove out of the jail a free man.

Earlier,despite several attempts to reach Sharma’s family,his wife’s phone was answered by a “friend” who said she had gone with the rest of the family to a temple.

Sharma’s counsel Sushil Kumar said: “The family will give its reaction only after R K Sharma is released.”