Manjunath murder: All 8 convicted

The murder of Manjunath, an IIM Lucknow graduate, had resulted in nationwide outrage, with IIM alumni, student groups, NGOs, rights groups, and the media campaigning for justice.

The prime accused was Monu Mittal, son of Sulakshan Mittal, who owned the petrol pump in Gola Gokarn in Kheri district at which Manjunath had detected irregularities and ordered closure.

The other seven accused are Devesh Agnihotri, who shot Manjunath, Sanjay Awasthi, Rakesh Anand, Shivkesh Giri, Harish Misra, Vivek Sharma, and Rajesh Verma.

In his 58-page verdict, the judge pronounced all of them guilty of criminal conspiracy and murder, besides destruction of evidence. They were also found guilty under some sections of the Arms Act.

Manjunath was murdered on November 19, 2005, and his body was recovered from an area under the Maholi police station of Sitapur, a district neighbouring Lakhimpur Kheri. Police had arrested Rakesh Anand and Vivek Sharma and seized a vehicle in which they were taking Manjunath8217;s body. Monu and the rest were arrested later.

Investigators found that Manjunath had visited Gola Gokarn on November 18, 2005, and stayed in a hotel there. The hotel manager, Ramesh Chandra Pandey, and Manjunath8217;s landlord, Dhanraj Shahni, were among the 23 witnesses presented by the prosecution. Three witnesses had turned hostile.

A large crowd had gathered at the court since 10 a.m. to hear the verdict, among them IIM alumni and others who had campaigned for justice. The administration had made special security arrangements, installing metal detectors and posting several policemen. Some of the men with the accused roughed up mediapersons and damaged a camera before being restrained by police.

In Bangalore, Manjunath8217;s father M Shanmugam said the judgment was good but offers him little solace.

8220;The court8217;s decision is good and welcome, but the truth is that I lost my son. I was thinking my retirement would be very gloomy but the verdict has brought a little sense of justice,8221; who retires in seven days from his job at BEML, Kolar Gold Fields. 8220;More than me, the judgment is good for the country and IOC. It8217;s a lesson for adulterators and anti-social elements. We want the accused sentenced to death.8221;

His mother Pramila said she felt good that the judgment came so early. 8220;It8217;s the interest taken by Manjunath8217;s friends at IIM and the media that has helped. We were told the accused are very powerful and the trial will drag on and on,8221; she said. 8220;However, our happiness went when our son died. Now, nothing can bring that back.8221;

For Manjunath8217;s brother Raghavendra Shanmugam, now an inspection engineer with an MNC in Bangalore, and his younger sister also now employed in Bangalore, the verdict in Manjunath8217;s murder trial has provided some relief.

8220;It was always hurting to think that the people who killed my brother could walk free. The verdict has brought some relief,8221; Raghavendra said.

The verdict came a day ahead of the announcement of the first Manjunath Shanmugam Integrity Award, instituted by the Manjunath Shanmugam Trust, an international IIM alumni initiative to improve governance in Indian public life.

On Saturday, the trust will, at a function at IIM Bangalore, present the Manjunath Shanmugam Integrity Award to an individual or organisation working to uphold truth and honesty in Indian corporate, government or public life.

8212;With inputs from Johnson T A in Bangalore