Grover murder: 'Killer' Maria freed, protesting friends held

Mumbai, Jul 3: Many friends of slain Neeraj Grover held a protest march from Malad to Juhu in Mumbai on Sunday, Jul 3. Attacking on the protesters, police detained all agitators, though released them after a short while.

The friends and kins were showing their rage over the Mumbai court's verdict in Grover's murder case. Maria Susairaj, who was accused as the "mastermind" of the murder, was only convicted for destruction of evidence in the murder. The maximum punishment for such offense can be three years of imprisonment and as Maria has already spent three years and one month in jail during the case trials, she was let off by the court.

Maria's fiance, Emilie Jerome Mathew, the co-accused in Grover's murder case, has been charged for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Jerome, a former Navy personnel, was sentenced for 10 years in jail.

Citing the court's judgment, Grover's friends earlier had showed protest in the press conference held by Maria and her lawyer on Saturday. While briefing the media, Maria claimed, "I am innocent. I sympathise with Neeraj Grover's family. It is very difficult to lose someone you love."

Despite Maria's confession, her lawyer dismissed allegations that the body was cut up in 300 pieces. Maria's lawyer also said that Grover's body was intact and there were no burn marks on Neeraj's body.

Maria and Jerome killed Grover in May 2008. Grover's body was chopped into several pieces and was disposed off in a bag in Mumbai outskirts.

Media reports came out with two different stories. While some say Grover was killed as he (Grover) failed to fulfill his promise to give "break" to Maria in the industry, the other alleged that Jerome killed Grover suspecting about an affair between Maria and the slain TV executive.

OneIndia News