The Manjunath murder trial today saw the appearance of an important witness - R K Zutshi - who was Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sales officer Manjunath Shanmugan’s immediate boss.

Appearing at the court of Lakhimpur Kheri district and sessions judge SMA Abdi, Zutshi, then senior divisional manager (retail sales), IOC, said Manjunath had conducted an inspection of the Mittal Automobile petrol pump at Gola on November 19, 2005 - the day he was murdered.

He also told the court that he had a telephonic conversation with Manjunath that very day. The pump, he said, was run by pump owner S K Mittal’s son Monu Mittal, the prime accused in the case.

Recalling the conversation, Zutshi quoted Manjunath as saying: “I am on a tour to inspect the petrol pumps. Right now I am at Gola. I will inspect the pumps here and move ahead.”

Two months before the murder, malpractices were detected at the Mittal Automobiles, Zutshi said. “I talked to Manjunath about the impact of our efforts to check malpractices. Manjunath told me that it has a good impact on the market.”

He said they also discussed other issues, including the opening of new petrol pumps. There were 32 petrol pumps under Manjunath’s jurisdiction.

Used cartridges: Zutshi also confirmed that used cartridges were recovered from the tank of Mittal automobiles in his presence on November 24, 2005.

“The police had requested us for the recovery of used cartridges from the tank.” The district supply officer and personnel from the Weight and Measurement department were also present. Diesel was not found in the tank, he added.

... contd.