Manjunath murder case IO bags award

LUCKNOW: The 2007 Police Award for best police investigations into a criminal case across the state was given to Inspector Pramesh Kumar Shukla for his skills as the Investigating Officer (IO) of the Manjunath murder case.
A sales manager with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) B Manjunath was shot dead by the owner of Mittal Automobiles at Gola Gokaranath area of Lakhimpur district in UP on November 19, 2005.Shukla was then posted as in-charge of Gola Kotwali and hence was designated as the IO of the case. The trial of the case concluded in 16 months and all the accused were convicted. The prime accused Monu Mittal was awarded death sentence.
The case came to light on November 20 when police in Sitapur intercepted a car with three persons inside during the early morning patrol.The two accused tried to escape but were arrested by the police and the bullet riddled body of Manjunath was recovered from the car. The arrested accused revealed that Manjunath was shot dead by the owner of Mittal Automobiles - Monu Mittal and his five aides. "The case was based on circumstantial evidence and hence a difficult one," said Inspector PK Shukla talking to TOI. "But because Manjunath died fighting corruption, there was an extra sense of responsibility on us to see that the culprits were brought to book," Shukla said adding, "Had it not been for some valuable guidance of the then SSP Lakhimpur Zaqi Ahmed, things would not have come so easy."
"The investigations were near foolproof," said senior HC lawyer IB Singh who assisted the public prosecutor pursuing the murder case in the court of district sessions judge Lucknow SM Abidi.