Update on Manjunath Shanmugham Trust

PFE the latest update. Also available on www.manjunathshanmugamtrust.org

Please keep fingers crossed for the framing of charges date at Khiri Sessions Court, today, 29th April 2006. We need your collective wishes.
Warm regards, Anjali

Case Update:
1. Trustees just back from visit with lawyer to Lakhimpur Khiri Sessions Court. IOC legal dept manager accompanied us .
2. The date for 'framing of charges' (stage prior to start of trial) is on 29th April 2006.
3. Public Prosecutor (PP)has agreed to have our lawyer as part of the prosecution team. With this, we now have direct representation. We have now got all the documents related to the case and our lawyer - a man of quality and integrity - is working to push the PP and IOC lawyer to join him in analysis and decision of how the case should be fought.
4. Met with the SP, Zaqi Ahmed, an extremely nice and dedicated IPS officer; as also the Investigating Officer (IO). The IO has done a painstaking job of the investigation. A meeting is scheduled with him and our lawyer and the PP to analyse any gaps in the chargesheet and how they can be filled.
5. IOCL had not been following up as they should
6. We have met with the Oil & Petroleum Secy in Delhi and spoken to the GM (UP State) of IOCL; he has assured us that he was not aware of this, and will ensure that going forward, IOC will be present at every hearing and push their lawyer to ensure he is updated and active on the case.
7. Indian Express and TOI editors met and updated. Read this article( http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTC8yMDA2LzA0LzI3I0FyMDAxMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom ) published yesterday 27th April in TOI: as requested, just before the 29th April date and the first one in months. Both newspapers are sending a reporter to Khiri on 29th.

Other Actions Update:
1. Business Plan for the trust has been drafted and will be finalised shortly.
2. Manjunath's father is being updated regularly
3. Multiple people have been met and their support enlisted - an erstwhile CBI director ; erstwhile DGP of police in Lucknow; serving IG in Vigilance Cell; minister in SP ministry; politician (IIML alumnus!) in Rahul Gandhi's core team - the effort continues.
4. Fund raising effort continues, though weakly due to lack of volunteers - current small group has their hands full. We are at Rs. 15.4 lakh, and have some way to go. Please donate today and ask your friends to do so: http://syg.com/web/manjunath/?page_id=8 has details on 'how to contribute'.
5. Volunteers have come in from UAE, Far East and London. Some volunteers have however, completely fallen off the radar. Please return, all is forgiven, family missing you very much!
6. Oil adulteration ? A few positive steps from the Government: Orders use of technology, staff incentives to clean up pumps http://www.indianexpress.com/story/2278.html

Next Major Activities (Volunteers needed!) :
1. We plan to set up a desk at all alumni association parties (in India) , which happen end-May. Nitin Bansal, IIMB '98 will lead the effort.
We need Volunteers just until May end for this effort.
2. Senior IIM alumni (CXO level) presence at the first case hearing, possibly in May: This will have a tremendous impact on the local judge and give us much media coverage.
We need references/volunteers for the team that will attend the trial.
3. We are evaluating a PIL against oil adulteration. Government steps are a good start but not seen as sufficient measures.
We need people to help with the legal research and as part of the core team driving this action. Long term involvement necessary.

Please visit www.manjunathshanmugamtrust.org or contact:
V. Sabitha (vsabitha@gmail.com) in the US;
H.Jaishankar (jai@corporateacademy.com) in India;
Vinit Chauhan (vinits.chauhan@gmail.com) in the UK;
and Ritesh Maheshwari (ritesh_ma@yahoo.com) in Singapore, for any further queries.