Witnesses turn hostile in IOC official Manjunath murder case

Lakhimpur Kheri, July 6 (UNI) The prosecution today sufferred a set back when two witnesses turned hostile in the murder case of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) marketing official V Manjunath.

Appearing before the court of district judge S M A Abdi, the witnesses -- Rajendra Singh and Balwinder Kaur -- today retracted their earlier statement given to the police.

The duo now feign ignorance about any information regarding the November 19, 2005 crime.

Another witness, a hotel manager Ramesh Chandra Pandey told the court that Manjunath had stayed at his hotel on November 18, 2005 and checked out the next day.

Sources said the defence counsel did not cross question the witnesses.

UNI XC-VS PR KP2038