The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Friday changed death sentence into life term to main accused in murder of Manjunath Shanmugam, who was an executive of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Lakhimpur Khiri. While six other accused were also given life sentence and two others have been
freed.
The main accused Pawan alias Monu Mittal, who was awarded death sentence by lower court, has got relief as the punishment has been converted into life term. Manjunath was murdered on November 19, 2005.
The session court in its verdict in March 2007 had given death sentence to main accused Pawan Kumar Mittal alias Monu. While eight other co-accused Rakesh Anand, Vivek Sharma, Pawan Kumar alias Monu, Lallah Giri, Sanjay Awasthi, Rajesh Verma, Harish Mishra and Devesh Agnihotri were given life term after finding them guilty in the case. The accused later filed the petition challenging the session court’s decision in High Court.
An IIM-Lucknow graduate Manjunath was allegedly shot dead at Mittal Automobile Petrol Pump in Gola Gokarn area of Lakhimpur Kheri district. His body was recovered from the secluded area at the border of Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur district. Pawan Kumar Mittal is son of the petrol pump’s owner. Manjunath had warned Pawan that the pump would be sealed for selling adulterated diesel. On the day of his murder, Manjunath had gone to the check the oil quality of the pump.
Fact File:
Manjunath shot dead on November 19, 2005
Police submitted the chargesheet against nine persons in February 2006
Verdict of Lakhimpur session court on March 26, 2007
Prime accused Pawan Kumar Mittal was given death sentence while other seven eight accused were given life imprisonment.