india is celebrating a whisky win on the world stage. Indri-Trini, a triple-cask indian single malt, just bagged the Best World Whisky Award at the prestigious Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards 2025. But behind the cheers, the clinking glasses, and the patriotic headlines lies a chilling reality: this brand is tied to a man once convicted of one of India’s most infamous murders.
manu Sharma — once the privileged playboy who shot model Jessica Lal dead in 1999 because she refused him a drink — served two decades behind bars. Now, he’s back. Not in politics, not in exile, but in business — as part of Piccadilly Agro Industries, the very company producing Indri whisky.
The world raises a toast. But should India?
1. The murder That Shook India
• 1999, Delhi. Jessica Lal, a model working at a party, refused manu Sharma a drink after hours.
• In rage, he pulled a gun and shot her point-blank.
• The case became a symbol of privilege, patriarchy, and power crushing justice.
2. Justice Denied, Then Delivered
• Initially, Sharma walked free in 2006 as witnesses turned hostile.
• Public outrage, media pressure, and protests forced a retrial.
• He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, finally facing consequences.
3. The Prison Years & Political Privilege
• Despite being behind bars, Sharma was often accused of enjoying privileges.
• He got parole for his father’s business, weddings, and even “personal emergencies.”
•He remained the son of Venod Sharma, a powerful congress politician with deep connections.
4. The Shock Release
• After 17 years in jail, Sharma walked free in 2020, citing “good conduct.”
• Few blinked. Many forgot.
• But those who remembered Jessica’s smile couldn’t forgive.
5. Indri: The Whisky That Masks the Wound
• Sharma is now involved in Piccadilly Agro Industries, the family empire.
• Their crown jewel: Indri-Trini, a premium indian single malt whisky.
• Marketed as luxury, authentic, and globally respected.
6. Las Vegas Applauds, india Cringes
• In 2025, Indri won Best World Whisky at the Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards.
• Global headlines celebrated “India’s proud moment.”
• But behind the bottle is a story of blood, privilege, and a nation’s short memory.
7. The Killer’s Redemption Arc — Or Our Collective Amnesia?
• Can a murderer be celebrated as an entrepreneur?
• Or has India’s thirst for global validation made it blind to morality?
8. Every Toast Has a Shadow
• Every time someone raises a glass of Indri, they unknowingly raise a glass to the man who pulled the trigger at a woman who said “No.”
• Whisky may win awards. But justice doesn’t come bottled.
⚡ Closing Punchline
This isn’t just whisky. This is liquid privilege, aged in barrels of impunity, and bottled with a murderer’s second chance.
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