Manjunath's family to appeal death to 3 accused

Kolar Gold Fields (Karnataka), Mar 26: Expressing satisfaction at the death sentence of the main accused Pawan Kumar, alias Monu Mittal, in the Indian Oil Corporation employee S Manjunath murder case, the IIM-Lucknow alumni's family members today said they would file an appeal, praying for the gallows for three other accused.

Manjunath's father Shanmugham told media persons here that they expected more accused, including Devesh Agnihotri, to be handed down capital punishment. ''We will go in for an appeal after consulting our lawyers and the Manjunath Shanmugham Trust.'' Echoing his views, Manjunath's mother Pramila and brother Raghavendra said the quick disposal of the case and passing of judgement had come as a huge relief to the family.

It may be recalled here that a court in Lakhimpur Kheri had pronounced all the eight accused guilty in the case on Friday last and sentenced the main accused to the gallows and the seven others to life imprisonment, today.

Manjunath was brutally done to death on November 19, 2005, when he attempted to check adulteration of fuel in an IOC petrol pump in Lakhimpur Kheri.

UNI