10 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, MANJUNATH CONTINUES TO INSPIRE MANY

Manjunath was a BE graduate from SJCE Mysore (1999 batch) who completed his MBA from IIM Lucknow in 2002.

He joined the Indian Oil Corporation Limited as a sales manager in 2002. Manjunath ordered the sealing of two petrol pumps for selling adulterated fuel in Lakhimpur Kheri for three months. When the pump opened again after a month, Manjunath conducted a sur- prise raid on 19 November, 2005 and found irregularities again.

As the second seizure would lead to cancellation of licence, the petrol pump owner asked Manjunath not to take any action. When he refused, Manjunath was shot dead by the petrol pump owner Pawan Kumar with six bullets. His body was found in the backseat of his car, which was being driven by two employees of the petrol pump.

Both accused were arrested.

The main accused Pawan Kumar Mittal alias Monu was arrested on November 23 along with seven others.

On March 26, 2007 all the eight accused were found guilty by the Lakhimpur court which awarded death penalty to Pawan and life term to seven others.

On December 11, 2009, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court communted Pawan’s death penalty to life term and aquitted two others.

On March 11, 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the life term of the remaining six convicts.