Pawan's body ready for transporting to India: Cognizant

IT firm Cognizant today said the Funeral Home in the U.S has received the body of Pawan Kumar, a techie from Karnataka who allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in New Jersey recently, from the Medical Examiner’s office and was ready to transport it back to India.

"The Funeral Home in the U.S has received the body of Pawan Kumar from the Medical Examiner’s office and is ready to transport the body back to India," Cognizant said in a press release.

In keeping with the family’s request, the company had made arrangements for the body to be transported directly from the Bangalore Airport to Tumkur for Pawan's final rites, Cognizant said. The company also said the Funeral Home is coordinating with various airlines for the body to be flown to India.

"In parallel, the Funeral Home is also working closely with the India Consulate in New York to get their assistance in sending the body back to India as quickly as possible," it added.

Cognizant also said that its officials are working with various agencies and are keeping the parents apprised of the developments. Earlier, Pawan's family had refused to fill the forms to complete procedure for bringing back Pawan's body demanding the body should come along with all reports including autopsy and inquest.

The family, later, relented and filled the forms after US officials said it would take at least four months to get all reports, including autopsy and inquest. The 26-year-old software engineer was in the US on an assignment with IT firm Cognizant when the incident happened in New Jersey.

Pawan, who was facing charges of murdering Pennsylvania woman Danielle Mehlman in Delaware's Dewey Beach motel, allegedly committed suicide at a hotel in New Jersey on June 19.

Overdose of drug was suspected to have caused the death of the young techie.