The family of the 26-year-old city-based techie Pawan Kumar, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a motel room in New Jersey in the US, allege that he was murdered by someone who was professionally jealous of him.
The family said it plans legal action against his employer if it fails to help bring his body back home. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Pawan Kumar’s uncle Mr Krishnappa said, “A couple of times, Pawan had mentioned that there were a lot of people who were jealous of him since he was good at his job. We feel that this could be the reason he was framed for the murder (of Danielle Melhman). It was definitely not suicide. We strongly suspect he was murdered by someone who could have induced him with drugs”.
Pawan’s brother-in-law Gopalakrishna said company officials – who had initially promised to help the family – were now disconnecting calls. He said the family will write to PM Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil seeking their intervention. He said the family has approached External Affairs minister S.M. Krishna’s office in New Delhi and they faxed a letter to the company seeking details.
Pawan Kumar was suspected by the Delaware State Police to be involved in the murder of Danielle Mehlman (26), a teacher and part-time dancer at a club, who was found murdered two days before the death of Kumar. According to the US police, Mehlman and Kumar had checked into the motel on June 17. Mehlman’s body was discovered by housekeepers in a room on the first floor of the motel on June 18.
Pawan’s sister Gunasheela says Mehlman had used her brother for his money. “My brother never mentioned anything to us about any woman in his life. We don’t understand how the murder issue just cropped up. Education was my brother’s life. He was always a merit student and was a very humble person. He never argued with anyone for anything, so how can he murder a person?”
“Cognizant’s HR for Bengaluru, Mr Praveen Joshi, called me on Monday evening and said that he would come to my house on Tuesday and help us get in touch with the US officials so that we can get my brother’s body back. However, he did not come or call again,” said Gunasheela. She says that they last spoke to Pawan on June 15 “when he called us and informed us that he wanted to buy a car. After that, we did not receive any call. On June 20, Mr Joshi called up and informed me that Pawan was dead. After that there was no proper communication from the company,” said Gunasheela.
Pawan’s mother Ganga Ratnama said, “I have lost my only son for no fault of his. Now we are not even able to go about his final rites. What will the US government do with a dead man’s body? All we are asking for is that the US government release his body,” she said.