Pawan's family threaten protests against employer

"The family members will meet company officials tomorrow along with some social organisations to request them to help bringing back the body," Pawan's brother-in-law Gopalakrishna said here.

Gopalakrishna said the firm has stuck to its earlier stand on the issue saying no further action could be taken by it to bring the body back unless they sign and return forms required by the New Jersey Medical Examiner's office for releasing the body.

During the meeting, the family would also seek reports, including autopsy and inquest from the US, as a precondition to signing the forms. "If they disagree, we will plan protest in next two days against the company for not cooperating with the family," he said.

"The company has told us to get the suicide note, laptop, investigation report ourselves from America...The company must have good contacts with the US investigation agencies. Can't they ask them to get the suicide note and status of the investigation?" Gopalakrishna said.

He said if the family signed the documents it would mean they have accepted Pawan had murdered a woman and then committed suicide. "The company should take the responsibility since it decided to send him to the US," he said.

Meanwhile, a Cognizant spokesperson said it is trying to help Pawan's family. "The family made certain demands a few days ago and we are discussing them with our US office. We will get back to the family with a detailed clarification," he said.

26-year-old Pawan, a techie from Tumukur in Karnataka who was facing charges of murdering Pennsylvania woman Danielle Mehlman in Delaware's Dewey Beach motel on June 18, allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in New Jersey on June 19. Overdose of drug was suspected to have caused the death.