Pawan's kin threaten protests against Cognizant

Bangalore, Jul 3: A relative of Pawan Kumar Anjaiah, a techie from Karnataka who allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in New Jersey in the US, today said the family planned to stage protests against IT firm Cognizant for not "helping" them to bring back the body.

"The family members will meet company officials tomorrow along with some social organisations to request them to "help" bringing back the body," Pawan's brother-in-law Gopalakrishna told PTI here. Gopalakrishna said the firm has stuck to its earlier stand on the issue saying no further action could be taken by it to bring the body back unless they sign and return forms required by the New Jersey Medical Examiner's office for releasing the body.

During the meeting, the family would also seek reports, including autopsy and inquest from the US, as a precondition to signing the forms. "If they disagree, we will plan protest in next two days against the company for not cooperating with the family," he said.

"The company has told us to get the suicide note, laptop, investigation report ourselves from America.... the company must have "good contacts" with the US investigation agencies. Can't they ask them to get the suicide note and status of the investigation?" Gopalakrishna said. Gopalakrishna said if the family signed the documents it would mean they have accepted Pawan had murdered a woman and then committed suicide.

"The company should take the responsibility since it decided to send him to the US based on his performance," he said.

A Cognizant spokesperson said it is trying to help Pawan’s family. "The family made certain demands a few days ago and we are discussing them with our US office. We will get back to the family with a detailed clarification," he said.

Pawan Kumar Anjaiah, 26, a techie from Tumkur in Karnataka, was facing charges of murdering Pennsylvania woman Danielle Mehlman in Delaware's Dewey Beach hotel on Jun 18. He allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in New Jersey due to suspected drug overdose on Jun 19.

PTI