On 29th April night, seven years ago…a young model Jessica Lal who offered to act as a celebrity bar-tender was shot dead at a party in Tamarind Court (a newly opened bar then, in South Delhi) for refusing to serve drinks to a guest who landed up at 2 am, way after the bar was closed. This unfortunate incident took place in a ‘high class’ gathering were most of the guests were VIPs, businessmen, top industrialists and celebrities who showed up for the party thrown by Delhi socialite Bina Ramani and fashion designer Malini Ramani. More than 100 people were present that night and most likely had witnessed the death of an innocent women.

However, prime accused Manu Sharma, son of serving Haryana minister Vinod Sharma, walked free along with eight others after the additional Sessions Judge S L Bhayana said that there was no evidence against the accused and the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

The case has put our judicial system into the spotlight and the heat is on for a re-investigation.

Now, the Justice for Jessica movement will move to a higher decibel.

Indian Drama And Entertainment Academy, a theatre group working to create awareness among the masses through social issues will enact a play called Justice for Jessica at Shree Kirtan Kendra, opposite Utpal Sanghvi School, Juhu, on March 5.

Mujeeb Khan, president of the academy, who is also the writer and director of the play says that Justice for Jessica will open with Jessica’s murder, but in the end, all the accused in the case will be punished.

Mujeeb says, “We have always dealt with social issues like the tsunami, Mumbai floods, riots in Gujarat and the like and thought that this was more relevant today.” There is no mention of names of the accused in the play. Whether through theatre, national debate, opinions or official investigation, the Jessica movement is one for the people, by the people and of the people.

The play begins at 7 pm and is free for all.

The cast: Lekha Goyal as Jessica, Suneha Chowhan as Sutradhar, Sanjay Kanojia, Dilip Shah, Ashok Anand, Jignesh Tanna and Kishor Shrivastav. [Source : Mid-day]