As Indian whisky brand Indri makes global headlines after being crowned Best World Whisky at the 2025 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards, find out more about its owner, Manu Sharma who now goes by Siddharth
Manu is tied to one of India’s most infamous murder cases and is a very controversial figure despite his success.
Who is Manu aka Siddharth Sharma, founder of Piccadilly Distilleries and owner of Indri Whisky brand
Jessica Lal's killer owns Indri – the fastest growing whiskey brand in the world.
Manu Sharma, the man who shot dead model Jessica Lal for refusing him a drink, is the actual person behind
Indri, an Indian brand that is the
fastest-growing whiskey in history.Shame on you!!👎 pic.twitter.com/fW6qIG0z09
— Think With Your Mate🌐💡 (@rochngaditya) October 1, 2025
Indian whiskey brand *owned by Manu Sharma who killed Jessica Lal in front of an entire restaurant and then bribed all the witnesses and gets to have a flourishing business because our country sucks like that, won an award
Fixed it for you. https://t.co/gdJF3F927I— ✨Disintegrating✨ (@whineandchill) October 2, 2025
Over the years, Niri has seen a rise in the global market, but it has also sparked a revived public interest in its founder’s dark past.
Indri wins best world whisky at Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards 2025
Indri, which is the product of Piccadilly Distilleries under the Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited (PAIL) group, recently won the title of Best World Whisky at the Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards 2025. The single malt drink has been celebrated worldwide for its craftsmanship and rich flavor ever since it release, and it has secured India’s growing position in the international whisky scene. However, despite the success, it has also brought scrutiny to PAIL’s ownership and its connection to Manu Sharma, who is the convicted killer of a model named Jessica Lal.
Notably, Sharma now goes by the name Siddharth Sharma and remains a key shareholder in the family-owned company. According to reports, PAIL recently invested nearly £15 million in a new Scotch distillery project in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, under Portavadie Distillers and Blenders Ltd.
Manu Sharma: Jessica Lal case
Back in April 1999, Sharma fatally shot Delhi model and barmaid Jessica Lal after she refused to serve him a drink during a late-night party. Despite being initially acquitted due to political influence and witness tampering, Sharma was later convicted in 2006 after facing massive public protests and media pressure. He served over 17 years in prison before he was eventually released in 2020 for “good behavior.” Notably, his father, politician Venod Sharma, had to resign from the Congress Party following allegations of bribery during the case.
This is owned by Manu Sharma. Yes, the same guy who shot and killed Jessica Lall. Now he calls himself Siddhartha. https://t.co/1ZwaZ8Prj2 pic.twitter.com/paScno6NjD
— The Road to Serfdom (@quark_time) August 31, 2025
Manu Sharma biography and age
Manu Sharma is a renowned business owner who was born Siddharth Vashisht. He is currently aged 48 and following his prison sentence, he now goes by the name Siddharth Sharma. Manu has seemingly immersed himself in his family’s liquor business empire and found success on the national and international levels.
Siddhartha Sharma is the owner, founder and promoter of Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd and the distillery and in September 2024, PAIL raised ₹262 crore through a preferential allotment from investors, with ₹50 crore more invested by the company’s promoters.
He is the son of the former Indian National Congress leader, Venod Sharma, and the brother of media baron, Kartikeya Sharma
Education
Manu Sharma attended Delhi Public School during his childhood and later pursued business studies at Delhi University.
Profession and career
Manu Sharma is currently listed as the founder of Piccadilly Distilleries, which is India’s largest independent malt spirits producer. Under his leadership, the company has launched ‘Indri,’ which has since gone on to become a global whisky sensation.
Net worth
Manu Sharma has an estimated net worth that exceeds ₹500 crore (approx. £48 million).
An investigation by The Sunday Post has revealed that Sharma’s family-owned company, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited (PAIL), has made a substantial investment in the Portavadie project worth around £15 million. Manu who now goes by Siddharth Sharma, is a major shareholder in PAIL and a key player in the company’s global expansion into the whisky industry.
A posh house in Chandigarh’s Sector 9 is the residence of Manu Sharma’s father, Venod Sharma and others assets, worth between Rs.1,000-2,000 crores, include four hotels, a cinema, and three sugar mills.
Gifted my dad this on his bdday last week
byu/king-shaft indelhi
