Lucknow:
Manjunath Shanmugam, an executive with Indian Oil, was murdered for exposing an adulteration racket in Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh four years ago.
Time stands still in the Manjunath household as it did on the November 19, 2005. Especially for his mother who just can't come to terms with the loss her bright and upright son.
"What is the point when I don't have my son around. I don't want to mourn his death," says Pramila Shanmugam, Manjunath's mother.
"We feel he is alive. We are not putting any garland on his photo," says his father.
Students at IIM-Lucknow, where Manjunath studied, remember him for his courage and his honesty. He was fondly known as 'Macha' on the campus.
"He was the lead singer of the band here and he loved music, says a student at the campus.
"Whenever we talk about whistle blowers and corporate ethics, Manjunath is an example closer to home that we always refer to and cite," says Ajay Garg, a professor at IIM-Lucknow.
The main accused in the murder case has been given the death penalty and seven others got life terms. But all of them have challenged the verdict in the Allahabad High Court. The judgement is likely to be out next month.
But for Manjunath's parents, no punishment can compensate for the loss of their son who was killed for doing his job and speaking out against corruption.