New Delhi, July 02: Actress and model Maria Susairaj is set to walk out free in the gruesome Neeraj Grover murder case. A Mumbai court sentenced her for 3 years for destruction of evidence which she has already served. The devastated Grovers say this is as good as an acquittal.
“This is like an acquittal,” said Neelam Grover.
“They should have been held responsible for murder,” said Amarnath Grover.
A devastating blow for the family of Neeraj Grover who want his killers to pay with harsher sentences.
In May 2008, Naval officer Emile Jermoe and his fiancee Maria Susairaj were accused of stabbing Neeraj Grover to death, and chopping up his body into as many as 300 pieces and disposing it off.
Three years later on Friday, Emile Jerome – convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder – got 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, for killing Grover in a fit of jealousy. And Maria Susairaj the Kannada actress was convicted for destruction of evidence – and got 3 years. She is now all set to walk out having already served the sentence.
In the final arguments before the judge, the prosecution claimed that:
– Maria was an active partner in the crime
– She tried to mislead the police after the murder
– Emile, a trained naval officer who was aware of the consequences did not try to save Neeraj
– Both brutally chopped off Neeraj’s body and disposed it off.
Emile’s lawyer defended him by saying that:
– Emile was provoked by circumstances and that he had no intention to kill
– His crime should be seen in the light that he was naval officer who served his country
Maria Susairaj’s lawyer argued for a lenient sentence.
“She was a victim of circumstances and she is young,” said Sharif Shaikh, Maria Susairaj’s lawyer.
Some have even raised questions over the verdict. “It’s an outstanding case of misjudgment,” said senior criminal lawyer Majid Memon.
While the prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict in the Bombay High Court, the family of Neeraj Grover claim justice hasn’t been done.
—Agencies